Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes an innovative program where leading personalities from sports and show business participate with presenter Kelly Somers for frank and comprehensive dialogues about football.

We'll explore mental approach and drive, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and individual insights. The Football Interview uncovers the individual behind the player.

The Chelsea defender began practicing with the London club at the age of six and - after developing through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now team leader.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, netting on his debut in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Now 25, his professional achievements to date include earning his England debut against the Welsh team in 2020, winning the Champions League 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 Kelly Somers to talk about his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

The interviewer: First question: name, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will recognize that location. My beverage is a flat white.

The host: Has it always been a flat white?

Reece: Not exactly, I began with, like, 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 all I knew in education. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I simply adored the sport.

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

James: No, just because my recollection is so bad. My first remembrance was likely, I don't know, going to watch my sibling compete. He's my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was significant in your family, correct, because your dad was so heavily involved? He is a football coach too, right? Share with me a little about that.

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

The presenter: Can you recall many of those training periods? Because I read that starting from the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he conducted drills with you in the back garden.

James: Yes, I remember - the drills started young. Fortunately, they paid off for myself and my sister [the club and national team forward Lauren James].

The interviewer: Tell me about your initial club that you represented as a child, what was it called, and what can you remember?

The defender: I don't remember much, frankly. It was the local team in the area. I believe I played for about a year. It was from there that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

Kelly: You didn't start as a backline player at first, correct? Explain about your role evolution and its development...

Reece: I began as a forward, and then eventually transitioned to the wing, left side, right wing, and eventually to central positions, and then eventually at right-back, and I disliked it at the time.

The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?

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

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

Reece: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I was a supporter during youth and he represented the player I admired.

The host: Can you think of a turning point in your career - a moment that has influenced your development and the professional you have become?

The defender: I would probably say going on loan. Transitioning between academy and first-team football is the hardest and this represents likely what most players making the jump find challenging.

Kelly: You're talking about 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 effectively?

Reece: The primary factor is that I featured week in week out, which proves beneficial. I gained a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and relatives and was forced to grow up fast. Playing on a consistent basis assisted significantly.

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

Reece: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] the veteran. He is almost old enough to be my father and has played at the highest level for many years. He consistently attempted to help me from the moment he arrived and still does, even now he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: How specifically would he help you?

James: It was small pieces of advice away from games. During matches, he occasionally observe situations that I perceived differently and attempt and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly nice to see him recently [during the tournament]?

The defender: It was wonderful to see him again. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions Chelsea]. It is consistently positive to see him.

Kelly: Were you able to return and experience again one match in your professional history, which would you pick?

James: Assuming the result is remains the same - I'd select the European Cup decider.

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