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

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This Sports Conversation represents a new series in which leading personalities from athletics and show business participate with 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 person beyond the player.

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

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, scoring on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights so far include earning his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, winning the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

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

James sat down with the interviewer to discuss his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: identity, your origins, and what's your coffee order?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I expect many will recognize that area. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

The host: Has it always been a flat white?

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

Kelly: Let's start by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold to you?

Reece: Essentially, from childhood, it's kind of all I knew in education. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I just loved the sport.

Kelly: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this tough to answer because it was such a big part of your early years and development?

Reece: No, simply due to my recollection is quite poor. My earliest memory was probably, I don't know, attending matches of my sibling compete. He's 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.

Reece: So there was three children growing up. It was all football mad, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

The presenter: Do you remember a lot of those sessions? Because I read that as young as the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he was doing exercises with you in the yard.

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

Kelly: Talk to me about your first ever team that you played for as a child, what was it called, and your memories?

The defender: I don't remember much, to be honest. It was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I think I played for about a year. It was from there that talent spotters noticed me for Chelsea.

The host: You didn't start as a backline player at initially, were you? Explain about your role evolution and its development...

James: I began as a forward, and then eventually transitioned to the wing, left side, right wing, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at defensive role, and I disliked it at the time.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Because I always wanted to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the ball as much but one day it just clicked and I've been a right-back since.

The interviewer: You mentioned you started as an attacker - who served as your role model?

Reece: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I grew up as a Chelsea fan during youth and he was the player I looked up to.

The host: Can you think of a turning point in your professional life - a moment that has shaped you and the player you have evolved into?

Reece: I'd likely identify going on loan. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is most challenging and this represents probably what most players transitioning upwards find challenging.

Kelly: You're referring to the club, of course. Why was Wigan the ideal team for you at the time? It was distant from everything you knew in the capital - why did it work so well?

James: The first thing is that I featured consistently, which helps. I acquired valuable exposure - I relocated from my friends and family and had to grow up fast. Participating on a regular schedule helped a lot.

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

The athlete: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He is nearly sufficiently experienced to be my father and has competed at elite standard for so long. He always tried to help me from the minute he joined and still does, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in 2024].

Kelly: In what way would he help you?

James: These were small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally see things that I saw differently and attempt and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It must have been nice to see him recently [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It was great to see him again. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to eventual winners his team]. It's always good to see him.

The interviewer: Were you able to go back and experience again a single game in your career, which would you pick?

James: Assuming the result is remains the same - it would be the Champions League [final].

The host: Besides victory, what was so special about that night