Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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The Football Interview represents a new series in which leading personalities from athletics and entertainment participate with host Kelly Somers for candid and detailed dialogues about football.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, covering defining moments, career highlights and personal reflections. The Football Interview uncovers the person behind the athlete.

The Chelsea defender started training 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 the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in 2019.

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

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries impacting him over the past four seasons.

James sat down with the interviewer to talk about his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

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

The athlete: The name is Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I'm sure many will recognize that area. My beverage is a specific coffee type.

Kelly: Was it consistently a flat white?

James: Not exactly, I began with, such as, vanilla lattes and stuff.

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

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

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of playing? Is this tough to respond to because it represented a big part of your childhood and development?

Reece: No, just because my recollection is quite poor. My earliest memory was probably, unsure, going to watch my sibling play. He's my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.

The host: It was big in your household, correct, because your father was so heavily involved? He is a football coach too, right? Share with me a bit about that.

Reece: Well there was three children during childhood. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

The presenter: Can you recall a lot of those sessions? Because I read that as young as the age of four, you were outside and he conducted drills with you in the back garden.

Reece: Yeah, I recall - the drills began early. Fortunately, they paid off for myself and my sister [Chelsea and national team attacker Lauren James].

Kelly: Talk to me about your initial club that you played for as a youngster, what was it called, and what can you remember?

Reece: My recollection is limited, frankly. That was the local team in the area. I think I played for about twelve months. It was from there that I was scouted for the professional club.

Kelly: And you weren't a backline player at first, correct? Explain about your role evolution and its development...

James: I started off as a forward, and then eventually moved to wide positions, left wing, right side, and later to central positions, and then finally at defensive role, and I hated it at that period.

The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?

The athlete: Because I always wanted to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the ball as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

Kelly: You said you started as a forward - who was your idol?

James: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan during youth and he was the athlete I admired.

Kelly: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your career - a moment that has shaped you and the player you have become?

The defender: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between academy and senior level is the hardest and this represents probably what many athletes making the jump find challenging.

The presenter: You're talking about Wigan, of course. Why did Wigan become the ideal team for you at the time? It was miles away from all you were familiar with in the capital - what made it successful so well?

Reece: The first thing is that I featured week in week out, which proves beneficial. I gained valuable exposure - I relocated from my companions and family and was forced to grow up quickly. Participating on a consistent basis assisted significantly.

Kelly: Who has had the greatest influence on your career?

The athlete: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] the veteran. He is almost sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has played at the highest level for so long. He always tried to help me from the minute he joined and continues to, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in that year].

Kelly: How specifically would he help you?

James: These were little messages off the pitch. On the pitch, he occasionally observe situations that I saw alternatively and attempt and paint a different picture.

Kelly: It was undoubtedly pleasant to meet him recently [at the Club World Cup]?

The defender: It was wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his team did well in the tournament [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions Chelsea]. It's consistently positive to see him.

The interviewer: If you could return and experience again one match in your professional history, what would you choose?

Reece: If the outcome is remains the identical - I'd select the Champions League [final].

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