Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes an innovative program where prominent figures from sports and show business join presenter Kelly Somers for candid and detailed dialogues about football.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, covering defining moments, career highlights and personal reflections. This series reveals the individual beyond the athlete.

The Chelsea defender began training with Chelsea at six years old and - after developing through the youth system and into the first team - is now team leader.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, scoring on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over the opposition in September 2019.

Now 25, his professional achievements so far include making his England debut against Wales in 2020, winning the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries impacting him over the past four seasons.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to discuss his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: First question: name, your origins, and what's your coffee order?

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

The host: Was it consistently a flat white?

Reece: Not exactly, it started with, like, vanilla lattes and stuff.

Kelly: We'll begin by talking football. What does football mean to you?

Reece: I mean, from a little kid, it was practically my entire focus in education. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I simply adored the sport.

Kelly: Your first recollection of participating? Is this difficult to answer because it represented a significant aspect of your childhood and growing up?

James: No, just because my memory is so bad. My earliest memory was likely, I don't know, going to watch my sibling compete. He is my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.

The host: It was big in your household, wasn't it, because your father was deeply engaged? He is a football coach too, right? Share with me a bit about that.

Reece: So there was three of us growing up. It was all football mad, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

Kelly: Can you recall a lot of those sessions? Because I read that starting from the four years old, you were outside and he conducted drills with you in the yard.

James: Yes, I recall - the training began early. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for myself and my sibling [the club and national team forward his sister].

The interviewer: Tell me about your first ever team that you played for as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

Reece: My recollection is limited, frankly. It was the local team in Kew. I believe I played for about twelve months. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

Kelly: And you weren't a defender at first, were you? Talk to me about your positional journey and its development...

James: I began as a forward, and then subsequently transitioned to wide positions, left side, right side, and later to midfield, and then eventually at defensive role, and I hated it at that period.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

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

Kelly: You said you began as an attacker - who was your idol?

Reece: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a supporter during youth and he represented the athlete I looked up to.

Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your career - an experience that has shaped you and the player you have evolved into?

The defender: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Bridging the gap between academy and first-team football is the hardest and that is likely what many athletes making the jump find challenging.

Kelly: You're referring to Wigan, naturally. What made was Wigan the ideal team for you at that period? The location was distant from all you were familiar with in London - why did it work so effectively?

Reece: The first thing is that I played consistently, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and family and was forced to grow up fast. Playing on a regular schedule helped significantly.

Kelly: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your professional journey?

The athlete: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He is almost old enough to be my father and has played at the highest level for many years. He always tried to assist me from the minute he joined and still does, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: In what way would he help you?

Reece: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. On the pitch, he would sometimes observe situations that I saw differently and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.

Kelly: It must have been nice to meet him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?

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

The interviewer: Were you able to go back and replay one match in your career, which would you pick?

Reece: Assuming the result is going to be the identical - I'd select the European Cup decider.

Kelly: Other than victory, what made it exceptional about the occasion