Style Obsession, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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The Football Interview represents an innovative program where leading personalities from athletics and entertainment participate with host Kelly Somers for candid and comprehensive discussions about football.

The program examines mindset and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, professional achievements and personal reflections. This series reveals the person beyond the player.

The Chelsea defender started training with the London club at the age of six and - after developing through the academy and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, netting on his debut in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in 2019.

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

However, things have not always gone smoothly, with multiple fitness issues impacting him over the past four seasons.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to discuss his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

Kelly Somers: First question: identity, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: The name is Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect more people will recognize that location. My coffee is a flat white.

The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

Reece: No, I began with, like, 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 education. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I just loved playing football.

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this tough to respond to because it represented a significant aspect of your childhood and growing up?

James: Not particularly, simply due to my recollection is quite poor. My earliest memory was likely, unsure, going to watch my brother play. He's two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was big in your household, correct, because your father was deeply engaged? He's a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Share with me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well there was three of us during childhood. It was 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 sessions? Since I read that starting from the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted exercises with you in the back garden.

James: Yes, I remember - the drills began early. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for myself and my sister [Chelsea and national team forward Lauren James].

Kelly: Tell me about your initial club that you represented as a youngster, what was it called, and your memories?

The defender: My recollection is limited, to be honest. That was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I believe I played for about twelve months. It was from there that talent spotters noticed me for Chelsea.

Kelly: And you weren't a defender at first, were you? Talk to me about your role evolution and how that changed...

Reece: I began as a forward, and then eventually moved to wide positions, left side, right side, and eventually to central positions, and then eventually 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 eventually everything fell into place and I've been a right-back since.

The interviewer: You said you began as a forward - who was your role model?

Reece: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a Chelsea fan growing up and he was the athlete I looked up to.

Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your career - a moment that has shaped you and the professional you have evolved into?

Reece: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Transitioning between academy and senior level is most challenging and that is likely what most players transitioning upwards find difficult.

Kelly: You're referring to Wigan, naturally. Why was Wigan the ideal team for you at the time? The location was miles away from everything you were familiar with in London - why did it work so effectively?

James: The first thing is that I featured week in week out, which proves beneficial. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and family and had to mature quickly. Playing on a consistent basis helped a lot.

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

Reece: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] the veteran. He is nearly old enough to be my father and has competed at the highest level for many years. He always tried to help me from the minute he arrived and still does, even now he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].

Kelly: How specifically would he assist you?

Reece: These were small pieces of advice off the pitch. On the pitch, he occasionally observe situations that I perceived differently and try and paint a different picture.

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

The defender: It proved great to see him again. I'm pleased that his club did well in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to eventual winners Chelsea]. It's consistently positive to see him.

Kelly: If you could return and replay one match in your professional history, what would you choose?

James: If the outcome is going to be the same - it would be the European Cup decider.

The host: Besides winning, what made it exceptional about the occasion