Style Obsession, Looking Up To Drogba & Bond with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes a new series in which leading personalities from sports and entertainment participate with host the interviewer for candid and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mindset and motivation, covering defining moments, career highlights and individual insights. The Football Interview uncovers the individual behind the athlete.

Reece James started training with the London club at the age of six and - after developing through the youth system and into the first team - is now team leader.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, netting on his debut in a comprehensive win over the opposition in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements to date include earning his England debut against Wales in 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries impacting him over recent years.

James sat down with Kelly Somers to discuss his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: Initial inquiry: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will recognize that area. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

Reece: No, I began with, such as, vanilla lattes and stuff.

The presenter: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What does football mean to you?

Reece: Essentially, from a little kid, it's kind of all I knew in school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I just loved playing football.

Kelly: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this difficult to answer because it was such a big part of your early years and growing up?

James: No, just because my memory is quite poor. My earliest memory was likely, I don't know, going to watch my sibling play. He is two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

The host: It was significant in your household, wasn't it, because your dad was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Share with me a little about that.

Reece: So we were three of us growing up. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

Kelly: Can you recall a lot of those sessions? Because I read that as young as the four years old, you were outside and he was doing drills with you in the yard.

Reece: Yeah, I recall - the training began early. Fortunately, they paid off for myself and my sibling [Chelsea and England forward his sister].

Kelly: Tell me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

The defender: I don't remember much, frankly. That was the local team in the area. I believe I was there for about twelve months. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for Chelsea.

Kelly: You didn't start as a backline player at first, were you? Explain about your role evolution and how that changed...

Reece: I began as a forward, and then eventually moved to wide positions, left wing, right side, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at defensive role, and I disliked it at that period.

Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Because I consistently desired to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the football as frequently but eventually it just clicked and I've been a right-back since.

Kelly: You mentioned you began as a forward - who served as your idol?

James: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he represented the athlete I admired.

Kelly: Identify a turning point in your professional life - a moment that has shaped you and the professional you have become?

The defender: I would probably say going on loan. Transitioning between academy and senior level is the hardest and that is likely what many athletes making the jump find challenging.

The presenter: You're talking about Wigan, naturally. What made did Wigan become the ideal team for you at that period? It was distant from everything you were familiar with in London - why did it work so well?

Reece: The first thing is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I gained a lot of experiences - I relocated from my friends and family and had to mature fast. Playing on a consistent basis helped a lot.

The interviewer: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your professional journey?

The athlete: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] the veteran. He's nearly sufficiently experienced to be my father and has competed at elite standard for so long. He consistently attempted to help me from the moment he joined and still does, presently he is not here [having left Chelsea in 2024].

Kelly: In what way would he help you?

Reece: These were little messages off the pitch. On the pitch, he occasionally observe situations that I perceived differently and attempt and paint a different picture.

Kelly: It was undoubtedly pleasant to meet him recently [during the tournament]?

Reece: It was great to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the competition [they lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners his team]. It's always good to see him.

Kelly: Were you able to go back and replay one match in your career, which would you pick?

Reece: If the outcome is remains the same - I'd select the European Cup decider.

The host: Other than winning, what made it exceptional about that night