Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton
- Published
This Sports Conversation constitutes a new series in which prominent figures from athletics and entertainment participate with presenter Kelly Somers for candid and detailed dialogues about football.
The program examines mindset and drive, discussing pivotal experiences, career highlights and individual insights. The Football Interview reveals the person behind the player.
Reece James began training with the London club at six years old and - having progressed through the academy and into the senior squad - is now club captain.
The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in September 2019.
Now 25, James' career highlights to date include earning his England debut against Wales in the year 2020, claiming the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.
However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues affecting him over the past four seasons.
The athlete spoke with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.
'He's nearly old enough to be my dad' - Reece James reveals Thiago Silva's impact on his career
Kelly Somers: First question: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?
The athlete: The name is Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect more people will know that location. My coffee is a specific coffee type.
The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?
Reece: No, I began with, like, flavored coffees and stuff.
The presenter: Let's start by discussing soccer. What does football mean to you?
Reece: I mean, from childhood, it was practically my entire focus in school. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I simply adored the sport.
Kelly: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this difficult to respond to because it was such a significant aspect of your early years and growing up?
Reece: Not particularly, just because my memory is quite poor. My first remembrance was likely, unsure, going to watch my brother compete. He is two years older than me, and he used to play as well.
The host: It was significant in your household, wasn't it, because your dad was so heavily involved? He is a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Share with me a bit about that.
The athlete: Well we were three of us during childhood. It was all football mad, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.
Kelly: Can you recall a lot of those sessions? Since I read that starting from the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted drills with you in the yard.
Reece: Yes, I remember - the drills began early. Thankfully, they paid off for me and my sister [Chelsea and national team attacker his sister].
The interviewer: 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 Kew. I think I played for about a year. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.
The host: And you weren't a backline player at first, were you? Talk to me about your role evolution and its development...
James: I began as a forward, and then eventually moved to the wing, left wing, right side, and later to central positions, and then finally at right-back, and I hated it at the time.
Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?
Reece: Because I always wanted to play midfield. There was less involvement with the ball as much but one day it just clicked and I've been a right-back since.
Reece James won the Champions League in that year when his team defeated Man City by one goal in the championship match in the Portuguese city
Kelly: You mentioned you began as an attacker - who served as your role model?
James: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter growing up and he represented the player I looked up to.
Kelly: Can you think of a turning point in your career - a moment that has influenced your development and the player you have become?
The defender: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and senior level is the hardest and this represents probably what most players making the jump find difficult.
Kelly: You're referring to Wigan, naturally. Why was Wigan the right club for you at the time? It was miles away from everything you were familiar with in the capital - why did it work so effectively?
Reece: The primary factor is that I played week in week out, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and family and had to mature quickly. Participating on a regular schedule assisted a lot.
Kelly: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your professional journey?
The athlete: I'd identify [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's almost sufficiently experienced to be my father and has competed at the highest level for so long. He consistently attempted to help me from the moment he joined and still does, even now he is not here [after leaving the club in 2024].
Kelly: In what way would he assist you?
Reece: It was little messages 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 see him this summer [during the tournament]?
Reece: It proved great to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his team did well in the tournament [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions his team]. It's consistently positive to encounter him.
The interviewer: Were you able to go back and experience again one match in your career, which would you pick?
James: If the outcome is remains the identical - it would be the European Cup decider.
The host: Besides victory, what was so special about the occasion
