Style Obsession, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents a new series where prominent figures from athletics and entertainment join host the interviewer for frank and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

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

The Chelsea defender started practicing with the London club at six years old and - after developing through the academy and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, scoring on his debut in a comprehensive win over the opposition in September 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights so far include making his England debut against Wales in 2020, claiming the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries impacting him over the past four seasons.

The athlete spoke with Kelly Somers to talk about his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: name, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I expect many will recognize that area. My beverage is a specific coffee type.

The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

James: Not exactly, it started with, like, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

The presenter: Let's start by discussing soccer. What does football mean to you?

Reece: Essentially, from childhood, it was practically all I knew in school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I just loved 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?

James: Not particularly, just because my recollection is quite poor. My earliest memory was probably, I don't know, going to watch my sibling play. He's two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was big in your family, wasn't it, because your dad was deeply engaged? He is a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Share with me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well there was three children growing up. We were all football mad, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

The presenter: Can you recall many of those training periods? Because I read that as young as the age of four, you were outside and he was doing exercises with you in the yard.

Reece: Yeah, I remember - the training started young. Thankfully, they paid off for me and my sibling [the club and national team forward Lauren James].

The interviewer: Tell me about your first ever team that you played for as a child, its name, and what can you remember?

Reece: I don't remember much, frankly. It was the local team in Kew. I think I played for about a year. It was from there that I was scouted for Chelsea.

The host: And you weren't a backline player at first, were you? Explain about your role evolution and how that changed...

James: I started off as a forward, and then eventually transitioned to wide positions, left wing, right wing, and later to midfield, and then finally at defensive role, and I hated it at the time.

The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Because I always wanted to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the football as frequently but one day it just clicked and I became a right-back since.

The interviewer: You said you began as an attacker - who served as your role model?

James: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I was a supporter growing up and he represented the player I admired.

The host: Identify a turning point in your professional life - a moment that has influenced your development and the player you have become?

The defender: I would probably say going on loan. Transitioning between academy and senior level is the hardest and that is probably what most players transitioning upwards find challenging.

The presenter: You're referring to the club, naturally. Why was Wigan the ideal team for you at the time? The location was miles away from everything you knew in London - why did it work so well?

Reece: The first thing is that I played week in week out, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and relatives and was forced to grow up fast. Playing on a consistent basis assisted a lot.

Kelly: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your career?

The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's almost old enough to be my dad and has played at elite standard for so long. He always tried to help me from the minute he joined and still does, even now he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: In what way would he help you?

Reece: These were small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally see things that I perceived alternatively and try and offer alternative perspectives.

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

Reece: It proved wonderful to see him again. I'm pleased that his team did well in the competition [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions his team]. It is consistently positive to see him.

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

Reece: Assuming the result is going to be the identical - I'd select the Champions League [final].

Kelly: Other than victory, what was so special about the occasion