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

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The Football Interview constitutes an innovative program where prominent figures from sports and show business participate with host Kelly Somers for frank and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

The program examines mental approach and motivation, covering defining moments, professional achievements and personal reflections. The Football Interview reveals the person behind the player.

The Chelsea defender began practicing with Chelsea at six years old and - after developing through the youth system and into the first team - is now club captain.

The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, netting on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

Now 25, his professional achievements to date include earning his England debut against the Welsh team in 2020, winning the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.

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

The athlete spoke 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?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will know that area. My beverage is a flat white.

Kelly: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

Reece: Not exactly, I began with, like, vanilla lattes and stuff.

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

The defender: Essentially, from a little kid, it's kind of all I knew in education. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I simply adored the sport.

Kelly: Your first recollection of participating? Is this tough to answer because it was such a significant aspect of your early years and development?

James: Not particularly, simply due to my memory is quite poor. My earliest memory was probably, I don't know, going to watch my sibling play. He is my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.

The host: It was significant in your household, correct, because your father was so heavily involved? He's a soccer trainer too, right? Tell me a bit about that.

Reece: Well we were three of us growing up. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

The presenter: Do you remember many 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 back garden.

Reece: Yeah, I remember - the drills began early. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for me and my sibling [Chelsea and England forward Lauren James].

Kelly: Talk to me about your initial club that you represented as a youngster, its name, and what can you remember?

Reece: My recollection is limited, to be honest. It was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I believe I was there for about a year. It was from there that I was scouted for the professional club.

Kelly: You didn't start as a defender at initially, were you? Talk to me about your positional journey and how that changed...

James: I began as a striker, and then eventually transitioned to wide positions, left side, right wing, and later to central positions, and then finally at defensive role, and I hated it at that period.

Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?

The athlete: Since I consistently desired to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the ball as frequently but one day everything fell into place 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 grew up as a Chelsea fan growing up and he represented the player I admired.

Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your professional life - an experience that has influenced your development and the player you have become?

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

The presenter: You're referring to the club, naturally. What made did Wigan become the right club for you at the time? The location was distant from all you knew in the capital - what made it successful so well?

Reece: The primary factor is that I played week in week out, which proves beneficial. I gained a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and family and was forced to mature quickly. Playing on a consistent basis helped a lot.

The interviewer: Who has had the greatest influence on your professional journey?

The athlete: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He's almost sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at the highest level for many years. He always tried to assist me from the minute he arrived and still does, even now he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].

Kelly: How specifically would he assist you?

James: These were little messages off the pitch. On the pitch, he would sometimes observe situations that I perceived differently and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.

Kelly: It was undoubtedly nice to meet him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It was great to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the competition [they lost in the penultimate round to eventual winners his team]. It's consistently positive to see him.

The interviewer: Were you able to go back and replay one match in your career, what would you choose?

Reece: If the outcome is remains the same - it would be the Champions League [final].

Kelly: Other than victory, what made it exceptional about the occasion