Style Obsession, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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The Football Interview represents an innovative program where leading personalities from athletics and show business join host Kelly Somers for frank and detailed discussions about football.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, discussing pivotal experiences, professional achievements and personal reflections. The Football Interview uncovers the person beyond the athlete.

Reece James started training with Chelsea at the age of six and - having progressed through the academy and into the first team - is now club captain.

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

Now 25, James' career highlights to date include earning his international bow against Wales in the year 2020, claiming the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues impacting him over the past four seasons.

James sat down with the interviewer to discuss his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: Initial inquiry: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

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

Kelly: Has it always been a flat white?

Reece: Not exactly, I began with, such as, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

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

Reece: I mean, from a little kid, it was practically all I knew in school. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I just loved playing football.

Kelly: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this difficult to answer because it was such a significant aspect of your childhood and growing up?

Reece: Not particularly, simply due to my recollection is quite poor. My earliest memory was probably, unsure, attending matches of my brother compete. He is two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was big in your family, correct, because your dad was so heavily involved? He is a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Share with me a little about that.

The athlete: So there was three children during childhood. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

Kelly: Can you recall many of those training periods? Since I read that as young as the four years old, you were outside and he was doing drills with you in the back garden.

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

Kelly: Tell me about your initial club that you played for as a child, what was it called, and what can you remember?

The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. That was the local team in the area. I believe I played for about a year. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for Chelsea.

The host: And you weren't a backline player at first, were you? Explain about your positional journey and its development...

James: I began as a forward, and then subsequently moved to the wing, left wing, right side, and later to central positions, and then finally at defensive role, and I disliked it at that period.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Because I always wanted to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the ball as much but one day everything fell into place and I became a defender since.

The interviewer: You mentioned you started as an attacker - who was your role model?

Reece: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter during youth and he was the athlete I looked up to.

The host: Can you think of a turning point in your career - an experience that has shaped you and the professional you have evolved into?

Reece: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Bridging the gap between youth and senior level is the hardest and that is probably what many athletes transitioning upwards find challenging.

The presenter: You're talking about the club, of course. Why was Wigan the ideal team for you at the time? It was miles away from everything you knew in the capital - why did it work so effectively?

James: The first thing is that I featured week in week out, which helps. I gained valuable exposure - I relocated from my companions and relatives and had to mature fast. Participating on a regular schedule assisted significantly.

Kelly: Who has had the biggest impact on your career?

The athlete: I'd identify [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's almost old enough to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for so long. He always tried to assist me from the moment he joined and continues to, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: In what way would he assist you?

James: These were little messages off the pitch. On the pitch, he would sometimes see things that I saw differently and try and offer alternative perspectives.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly pleasant to meet him recently [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It proved great to see him again. I'm pleased that his team performed admirably in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to eventual winners his team]. It's consistently positive to encounter him.

Kelly: If you could return and replay one match in your career, which would you pick?

Reece: If the outcome is remains the same - it would be the European Cup decider.

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