Style Obsession, Looking Up To Didier Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents an innovative program where leading personalities from sports and entertainment participate with presenter the interviewer for frank and detailed discussions about football.

The program examines mindset and drive, discussing defining moments, professional achievements and personal reflections. This series reveals the person behind the athlete.

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

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, scoring on his debut in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements to date include making his England debut against the Welsh team in the year 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues impacting him over the past four seasons.

James sat down with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: name, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?

Reece James: The name is Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect more people will recognize that location. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

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

Reece: Not exactly, I began with, like, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

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

The defender: I mean, from childhood, it's kind of all I knew in school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I just loved playing football.

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

James: No, just because my recollection is so bad. My first remembrance was probably, unsure, attending matches of my brother play. He's my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.

Kelly: It was significant in your household, wasn't it, because your dad was deeply engaged? He is a football coach too, right? Tell me a little about that.

Reece: Well we were three children during childhood. We were all football mad, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

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

Reece: Yeah, I recall - the drills started young. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for myself and my sister [Chelsea and national team attacker Lauren James].

The interviewer: Talk to me about your first ever team that you played for as a youngster, its name, and what can you remember?

The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. It was the local team in Kew. I think I was there for about twelve months. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for Chelsea.

The host: You didn't start as a defender at first, correct? Explain about your role evolution and how that changed...

Reece: I began as a forward, and then subsequently transitioned to the wing, left wing, right wing, and later to midfield, and then finally 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 began as an attacker - who served as your role model?

James: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I was a supporter during youth and he was the player I looked up to.

The host: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your professional life - an experience that has shaped you and the professional you have become?

The defender: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and senior level is most challenging and that is likely what many athletes making the jump find challenging.

Kelly: You're referring to the club, of course. What made did Wigan become the right club for you at the time? It was distant from all you were familiar with in London - why did it work so well?

James: The primary factor is that I featured consistently, which helps. I gained a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and family and was forced to mature quickly. Participating on a consistent basis assisted significantly.

The interviewer: Who has had the biggest impact on your career?

Reece: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He is almost sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to help me from the moment he joined and still does, even now he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: How specifically would he help you?

Reece: It was little messages off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally observe situations that I saw alternatively and try and paint a different picture.

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

Reece: It proved wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his club performed admirably in the tournament [they lost in the semi-finals to the champions Chelsea]. It is consistently positive to encounter him.

Kelly: Were you able to go back and replay a single game in your career, what would you choose?

Reece: Assuming the result is remains the identical - I'd select the Champions League [final].

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