Style Obsession, Looking Up To Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton
- Published
This Sports Conversation represents a new series where leading personalities from athletics and entertainment join host Kelly Somers for candid and detailed dialogues about the beautiful game.
The program examines mental approach and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, professional achievements and personal reflections. The Football Interview uncovers the individual behind the player.
The Chelsea defender began 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 Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, scoring 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 2020, claiming the Champions League with his club in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.
However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries affecting him over recent years.
The athlete spoke with Kelly Somers to discuss his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.
'He's nearly old enough to be my dad' - Reece James reveals the veteran's influence on his career
Kelly Somers: First question: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?
The athlete: I am Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will recognize that area. My beverage is a specific coffee type.
Kelly: Has it always been a flat white?
Reece: Not exactly, it started with, such as, vanilla lattes and similar drinks.
Kelly: We'll begin by talking football. What significance does soccer hold to you?
The defender: I mean, from childhood, it was practically all I knew in school. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I just loved the sport.
The interviewer: Your first recollection of playing? Is this difficult to respond to because it was such a big part of your early years and development?
Reece: Not particularly, just because my memory is so bad. My earliest memory was likely, I don't know, going to watch my brother play. He is two years older than me, and he also participated as well.
Kelly: It was big in your household, wasn't it, because your dad was deeply engaged? He's a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Share with me a bit about that.
The athlete: So there was three of us growing up. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we used to train a lot with him.
Kelly: Do you remember many of those sessions? Because I learned that as young as the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he conducted exercises with you in the yard.
Reece: Yeah, I recall - the drills started young. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for me and my sister [Chelsea and England attacker his sister].
The interviewer: Talk to me about your initial club that you played for as a child, what was it called, and your memories?
The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. It was the local team in Kew. I believe I played for about a year. It was from there that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.
Kelly: You didn't start as a backline player at initially, were you? Talk to me about your positional journey and how that changed...
Reece: I started off as a striker, and then eventually transitioned to wide positions, left wing, right wing, and eventually to central positions, and then eventually at defensive role, and I hated it at that period.
The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?
The athlete: Because I consistently desired to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the ball as much but one day everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.
Reece James won the prestigious trophy in 2021 when his team defeated Man City 1-0 in the final in Porto
Kelly: You mentioned you started as an attacker - who served as your idol?
Reece: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I was a supporter during youth and he was 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 professional you have evolved into?
The defender: I'd likely identify going on loan. Bridging the gap between academy and first-team football is most challenging and that is probably what many athletes making the jump find difficult.
The presenter: You're talking about Wigan, of course. Why did Wigan become the right club for you at that period? It was miles away from all you were familiar with in London - what made it successful so effectively?
James: The primary factor is that I played week in week out, which proves beneficial. I gained valuable exposure - I moved away from my friends and family and was forced to grow up fast. Participating on a consistent basis assisted a lot.
The interviewer: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your professional journey?
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 consistently attempted to assist me from the moment he joined and still does, even now he is not here [having left Chelsea in that year].
Kelly: How specifically would he assist you?
Reece: It was little messages off the pitch. On the pitch, he would sometimes observe situations that I saw differently and try and offer alternative perspectives.
The presenter: It must have been nice to meet him recently [during the tournament]?
The defender: It was great to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to eventual winners his team]. It is consistently positive to encounter him.
The interviewer: Were you able to return and replay one match in your career, which would you pick?
Reece: Assuming the result is going to be the identical - it would be the Champions League [final].
Kelly: Other than victory, what was so special about the occasion
