Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes an innovative program where prominent figures from sports and show business join host the interviewer for candid and detailed discussions about football.

We'll explore mental approach and drive, covering defining moments, career highlights and personal reflections. This series uncovers the individual beyond the player.

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

The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, scoring on his debut in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights to date include earning his international bow against the Welsh team in the year 2020, claiming the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with multiple fitness issues impacting him over recent years.

James sat down with the interviewer to talk about his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with multiple Formula One title winner the racing driver.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: name, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

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

The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

James: No, I began with, like, vanilla lattes and similar drinks.

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

Reece: I mean, from childhood, it's kind of my entire focus in education. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I simply adored the sport.

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of playing? Is this difficult to respond to because it represented a significant aspect of your childhood and growing up?

Reece: Not particularly, simply due to my memory is so bad. My earliest memory was probably, I don't know, attending matches of my brother play. He is my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was significant in your family, correct, because your father was deeply engaged? He is a soccer trainer too, right? Share with me a little about that.

The athlete: Well there was three children growing up. It was all football mad, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we used to train 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 conducted exercises with you in the yard.

James: Yes, I recall - the drills started young. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for myself and my sister [the club and England attacker his sister].

Kelly: Talk to me about your initial club that you played for as a youngster, its name, and what can you remember?

Reece: I don't remember much, frankly. It was the local team in the area. I think I was there for about a year. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

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

James: I started off as a striker, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left wing, right wing, and eventually to central positions, and then eventually at defensive role, and I disliked it at the time.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Since I always wanted to play midfield. There was less involvement with the ball as frequently but one day it just clicked and I've been a right-back since.

The interviewer: You mentioned you started as a forward - who was your role model?

Reece: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter during youth and he was the athlete I admired.

Kelly: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your professional life - an experience that has shaped you and the player you have evolved into?

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

The presenter: You're referring to Wigan, of course. Why did Wigan become the ideal team for you at the time? The location was miles away from everything you were familiar with in the capital - why did it work so effectively?

Reece: The primary factor is that I played week in week out, which helps. I acquired valuable exposure - I moved away from my friends and family and had to mature fast. Participating on a regular schedule helped a lot.

The interviewer: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your career?

The athlete: I'd identify [Brazil defender] the veteran. He is almost sufficiently experienced to be my father and has competed at elite standard for many years. He always tried to assist me from the minute he joined and still does, even now he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: How specifically would he assist you?

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

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

Reece: It proved great to see him again. I'm pleased that his team performed admirably in the tournament [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions Chelsea]. It is consistently positive to see him.

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

James: Assuming the result is remains the same - it would be the European Cup decider.

Kelly: Besides victory, what made it exceptional about that night