Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents an innovative program in which leading personalities from sports and entertainment join host the interviewer for frank and detailed dialogues about football.

The program examines mindset and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and individual insights. This series reveals the individual beyond the athlete.

Reece James began practicing with the London club at six years old and - after developing through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, scoring on his debut in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights to date include making his international bow against Wales in 2020, claiming the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues impacting him over the past four seasons.

James sat down with the interviewer to discuss his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: identity, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?

The athlete: The name is Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I expect more people will recognize that location. My beverage is a specific coffee type.

Kelly: Was it consistently a flat white?

James: No, it started with, such as, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

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

The defender: I mean, from a little kid, it's kind of my entire focus in education. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I just loved the sport.

Kelly: What's your earliest memory of playing? Is this tough to respond to because it was such a significant aspect of your childhood and growing up?

Reece: No, just because my memory is so bad. My first remembrance was probably, unsure, going to watch my brother play. He is my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.

Kelly: It was significant in your family, wasn't it, because your father was deeply engaged? He is a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Tell me a little about that.

The athlete: So we were three children growing up. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

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

James: Yes, I remember - the training started young. Fortunately, they paid off for me and my sister [Chelsea and national team forward his sister].

The interviewer: Tell me about your first ever team that you played for as a child, its name, and what can you remember?

Reece: My recollection is limited, frankly. That was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I believe I was there for about a year. From that point that I was scouted for Chelsea.

Kelly: And you weren't a backline player at initially, were you? Talk to me about your positional journey and its development...

James: I began as a forward, and then eventually moved to wide positions, left side, right wing, and eventually to central positions, and then finally at defensive role, and I hated it at the time.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

Reece: Since I consistently desired to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the ball as much but eventually everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

Kelly: You mentioned you began as an attacker - who served as your role model?

Reece: The player I admired was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan during youth and he represented the athlete I admired.

The host: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your professional life - an experience that has influenced your development and the player you have evolved into?

The defender: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is most challenging and that is likely what most players making the jump find difficult.

Kelly: You're talking about the club, naturally. What made did Wigan become the right club for you at that period? The location was miles away from all you knew in London - why did it work so effectively?

James: The first thing is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and family and was forced to mature fast. Participating on a regular schedule assisted a lot.

Kelly: Who has had the biggest impact on your professional journey?

The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] the veteran. He is nearly sufficiently experienced to be my father and has competed at the highest level for many years. He consistently attempted to help me from the minute he joined and continues to, even now he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].

Kelly: How specifically would he help you?

James: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he would sometimes observe situations that I saw alternatively and try and offer alternative perspectives.

Kelly: It must have been pleasant to meet him recently [during the tournament]?

Reece: It proved wonderful to see him again. I'm pleased that his club did well in the tournament [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions Chelsea]. It is consistently positive to encounter him.

Kelly: If you could return and replay a single game in your professional history, what would you choose?

Reece: If the outcome is going to be the identical - I'd select the European Cup decider.

Kelly: Besides winning, what made it exceptional about that night