Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Didier Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

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The Football Interview constitutes a new series where leading personalities from athletics and entertainment participate with presenter the interviewer for candid and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, professional achievements and individual insights. The Football Interview reveals the person behind the athlete.

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 Chelsea supporters in style, netting on his debut in a comprehensive win over the opposition in 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights to date include making his international bow against Wales in the year 2020, claiming the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries affecting him over recent years.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to talk about his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Kelly Somers: First question: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

The athlete: The name is Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I'm sure many will know that area. My beverage is a flat white.

The host: Has it always been a that particular coffee?

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

The presenter: Let's start by discussing soccer. What does football mean to you?

Reece: I mean, from a little kid, it was practically all I knew in education. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I just loved the sport.

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

Reece: Not particularly, simply due to my memory is quite poor. My earliest memory was likely, unsure, attending matches of my sibling compete. 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 father was deeply engaged? He's a soccer trainer too, right? Share with me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well there was three of us during childhood. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

Kelly: Can you recall a lot of those sessions? Since I learned that starting from the age of four, you were outside and he was doing exercises with you in the yard.

James: Yeah, I remember - the drills began early. Thankfully, they paid off for me and my sibling [Chelsea and national team attacker Lauren James].

The interviewer: Talk to me about your initial club that you represented as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. That was the local team in the area. I think I was there for about a year. It was from there that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

Kelly: You didn't start as a defender at initially, correct? Talk to me about your positional journey and how that changed...

James: I started off as a forward, and then subsequently transitioned to the wing, left wing, right side, and later to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I disliked it at the time.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

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

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

James: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he represented the athlete I looked up to.

Kelly: Can you think of a turning point in your professional life - an experience that has shaped you and the player you have become?

Reece: I would probably say the loan spell. Bridging the gap between academy and first-team football is most challenging and this represents likely what most players making the jump find challenging.

The presenter: You're referring to Wigan, of course. Why was Wigan the ideal team for you at the time? The location was distant from all you were familiar with in London - why did it work so well?

James: The first thing is that I played consistently, which proves beneficial. I gained a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and family and had to mature quickly. Participating on a regular schedule assisted significantly.

The interviewer: Who has had the greatest influence on your career?

Reece: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He is nearly sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for so long. He always tried to assist me from the minute he joined and continues to, even now he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].

Kelly: In what way would he help you?

Reece: These were small pieces of advice off the pitch. On the pitch, he would sometimes observe situations that I saw differently and try and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly pleasant to see him recently [during the tournament]?

Reece: It proved wonderful to see him again. I'm pleased that his club did well in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to eventual winners Chelsea]. It's always good to encounter him.

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

Reece: If the outcome is going to be the same - I'd select the Champions League [final].

The host: Other than victory, what was so special about the occasion