Style Obsession, Looking Up To Didier Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

• Published
  47 minutes ago

This Sports Conversation constitutes a new series in which prominent figures from sports and show business join host the interviewer for frank and detailed dialogues about football.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, discussing defining moments, professional achievements and individual insights. The Football Interview reveals the individual beyond the athlete.

The Chelsea defender started training with the London club at six years old and - after developing through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now team leader.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, netting on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights so far include making his England debut against the Welsh team in 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.

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

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to talk about his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

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

The athlete: I am Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I'm sure many will know that location. My beverage is a specific coffee type.

The host: Has it always been a flat white?

Reece: No, it started with, such as, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

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

The defender: Essentially, from a little kid, it was practically my entire focus in school. I wasn't 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 childhood and growing up?

Reece: No, just because my memory is so bad. My first remembrance was probably, I don't know, attending matches of my sibling compete. He's two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was significant in your household, wasn't it, because your father was so heavily involved? He is a football coach too, isn't he? Share with me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well there was three of us growing up. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

Kelly: Can you recall a lot of those training periods? Since I read that starting from the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he was doing drills with you in the yard.

James: Yes, I recall - the training started young. Fortunately, they paid off for me and my sister [the club and England forward his sister].

Kelly: Talk to me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, its name, and what can you remember?

Reece: I don't remember much, to be honest. It was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I think I played for about twelve months. It was from there that I was scouted for Chelsea.

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

Reece: I started off as a forward, and then eventually moved to wide positions, left side, right side, and later to central positions, and then finally at defensive role, and I disliked it at that period.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Since I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the football as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I've been a right-back since.

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

Reece: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I was a supporter growing up and he represented the player I looked up to.

Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your professional life - an experience that has influenced your development and the player you have evolved into?

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

Kelly: You're referring to Wigan, naturally. What made was Wigan the right club for you at that period? The location was miles away from all you were familiar with in London - what made it successful so effectively?

Reece: The primary factor is that I played week in week out, which helps. I gained a lot of experiences - I relocated from my friends and relatives and had to grow up quickly. Participating on a consistent basis helped significantly.

The interviewer: Which individual exerted 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 the highest level for many years. He always tried to assist me from the moment he arrived and continues to, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in 2024].

Kelly: How specifically would he help you?

Reece: It was little messages away from games. On the pitch, he would sometimes observe situations that I saw differently and try and paint a different picture.

Kelly: It was undoubtedly nice to see him recently [during the tournament]?

The defender: It proved great to see him again. I'm happy that his club did well in the tournament [they lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners his team]. It is consistently positive to encounter him.

Kelly: If you could 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 European Cup decider.

Kelly: Other than winning, what was so special about that night