Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents a new series where leading personalities from athletics and entertainment join presenter the interviewer for candid and detailed discussions about football.

The program examines mindset and drive, discussing defining moments, professional achievements and individual insights. The Football Interview reveals the individual beyond the athlete.

The Chelsea defender started practicing with Chelsea at the age of six and - after developing through the youth system and into the first team - is now team leader.

The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements so far include earning his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, claiming the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

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

James sat down with Kelly Somers to discuss his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

Kelly Somers: First question: name, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure many will know that area. My beverage is a specific coffee type.

The host: Has it always been a that particular coffee?

James: Not exactly, I began with, such as, vanilla lattes and stuff.

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

The defender: I mean, from childhood, it was practically my entire focus in education. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I just loved playing football.

The interviewer: Your first recollection of playing? Is this difficult to answer because it represented a big part of your early years and development?

Reece: Not particularly, just because my recollection is so bad. My earliest memory was probably, unsure, going to watch my sibling play. He's my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was big in your family, wasn't it, because your father was so heavily involved? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Share with me a little about that.

Reece: So we were three of us growing up. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

Kelly: Do you remember many of those training periods? Because I learned that as young as the four years old, you were outside and he conducted drills with you in the yard.

James: Yes, I remember - the training began early. Thankfully, they paid off for me and my sister [Chelsea and national team forward his sister].

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

Reece: My recollection is limited, frankly. It was the local team in Kew. I believe I was there for about a year. From that point that I was scouted for Chelsea.

Kelly: And you weren't a defender at initially, were you? Explain about your role evolution and how that changed...

Reece: I started off as a forward, and then subsequently transitioned to the wing, left side, right wing, and later to central positions, and then finally at defensive role, and I hated it at the time.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Since I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the football as much but eventually everything fell into place and I've been a defender since.

Kelly: You said you started as an attacker - who served as your idol?

Reece: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he represented the athlete I looked up to.

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

The defender: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is most challenging and that is likely what most players making the jump find challenging.

The presenter: You're referring to the club, naturally. What made was Wigan the ideal team for you at that period? It was distant from all you knew in London - what made it successful so effectively?

James: The first thing is that I played week in week out, which proves beneficial. I gained a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and family and had to grow up fast. Participating on a consistent basis assisted significantly.

Kelly: Who has had the greatest influence on your professional journey?

Reece: I'd identify [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's almost old enough to be my father and has played at the highest level for many years. He always tried to help me from the moment he arrived and still does, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in 2024].

The host: How specifically would he assist you?

Reece: These were small pieces of advice away from games. During matches, he occasionally observe situations that I saw differently and attempt and paint a different picture.

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

Reece: It proved great to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his club did well in the tournament [they were defeated in the penultimate round to eventual winners Chelsea]. It's always good to see him.

The interviewer: If you could go back and replay one match in your professional history, what would you choose?

James: Assuming the result is going to be the identical - it would be the European Cup decider.

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