Fashion Passion, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Bond with Lewis Hamilton

• Released
  47 minutes ago

This Sports Conversation constitutes a new series where leading personalities from sports and show business participate with presenter the interviewer for candid and comprehensive dialogues about football.

We'll explore mindset and motivation, discussing pivotal experiences, professional achievements and individual insights. This series reveals the person beyond the athlete.

The Chelsea defender began practicing with the London club at the age of six and - after developing through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now team leader.

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

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

Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries affecting him over recent years.

James sat down with Kelly Somers to talk about his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

The interviewer: First question: name, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I expect many will know that area. My coffee is a flat white.

Kelly: Was it consistently a flat white?

James: No, it started with, such as, vanilla lattes and stuff.

Kelly: We'll begin by talking football. What significance does soccer hold to you?

Reece: Essentially, from a little kid, it's kind of my entire focus in school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I just loved the sport.

The interviewer: Your first recollection of participating? Is this tough to answer because it was such a big part of your early years and growing up?

James: Not particularly, simply due to my memory is so bad. My first remembrance was probably, unsure, going to watch my sibling compete. He's my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.

Kelly: It was big in your family, wasn't it, because your father was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Tell me a bit about that.

The athlete: So we were three children during childhood. It was all football mad, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

The presenter: 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 back garden.

James: Yeah, I remember - the training started young. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for me and my sibling [Chelsea and national team forward Lauren James].

Kelly: Tell 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, to be honest. It was the local team in Kew. I think I was there for about a year. From that point that I was scouted for Chelsea.

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

James: I began as a forward, and then eventually transitioned to wide positions, left side, right wing, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at right-back, and I hated it at the time.

Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Because I always wanted to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the ball as much but one day it just clicked and I became a right-back since.

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

Reece: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan during youth and he represented the player I looked up to.

Kelly: Identify a turning point in your career - a moment that has influenced your development and the player you have evolved into?

Reece: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Bridging the gap between academy and senior level is most challenging and that is likely what many athletes making the jump find difficult.

Kelly: You're talking about Wigan, naturally. Why was Wigan the ideal team for you at the time? It was miles away from everything you knew in London - why did it work so effectively?

James: The first thing is that I played week in week out, which proves beneficial. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my friends and relatives and was forced to mature quickly. Participating on a consistent basis helped significantly.

The interviewer: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your professional journey?

Reece: I would say [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's almost sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has played at the highest level for so long. He always tried to assist me from the minute he arrived and still does, presently he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].

Kelly: How specifically would he help you?

Reece: It was small pieces of advice away from games. During matches, he occasionally see things that I perceived differently and try and offer alternative perspectives.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly nice to see him this summer [during the tournament]?

The defender: It proved wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his club did well in the competition [they were defeated in the semi-finals to eventual winners his team]. It's consistently positive to see him.

The interviewer: Were you able to return and replay one match in your professional history, what would you choose?

Reece: Assuming the result is remains the same - I'd select the European Cup decider.

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