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

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The Football Interview represents a new series where leading personalities from sports and show business participate with host Kelly Somers for frank and comprehensive discussions about football.

The program examines mental approach and drive, covering pivotal experiences, professional achievements and personal reflections. The Football Interview uncovers the person behind the athlete.

Reece James began practicing with the London club at six years old and - having progressed through the youth system and into the first team - is now team leader.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, netting on his debut in a comprehensive win over the opposition in September 2019.

Now 25, his professional achievements to date include earning his international bow against Wales in the year 2020, claiming the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

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

James sat down with the interviewer to talk about his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his relationship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: First question: identity, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?

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

The host: Has it always been a flat white?

James: Not exactly, I began with, such as, flavored coffees and stuff.

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

Reece: I mean, from a little kid, it was practically my entire focus in school. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I simply adored playing football.

Kelly: Your first recollection of playing? Is this difficult to answer because it represented a big part of your early years and growing up?

James: No, just because my recollection is quite poor. My earliest memory was likely, unsure, going to watch my sibling play. He is two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

Kelly: It was significant in your family, wasn't it, because your father was deeply engaged? He's a soccer trainer too, right? Share with me a little about that.

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

Kelly: Do you remember a lot of those sessions? Since I read that starting from the four years old, you were outside and he was doing drills with you in the yard.

James: Yeah, I remember - the drills started young. Fortunately, they paid off for me and my sister [Chelsea and England attacker Lauren James].

Kelly: Tell me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

Reece: My recollection is limited, to be honest. That was the local team in Kew. I think I was there for about twelve months. It was from there that I was scouted for the professional club.

Kelly: You didn't start as a defender at first, were you? Explain about your positional journey and its development...

Reece: I began as a forward, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left wing, right wing, and later to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I disliked it at that period.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Because I always wanted to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the football as much but eventually everything fell into place and I've been a right-back since.

Kelly: You said you started as an attacker - who served as your role model?

Reece: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he represented the athlete I admired.

Kelly: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your career - an experience that has influenced your development and the player you have become?

The defender: I would probably say going on loan. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is most challenging and this represents likely what many athletes making the jump find challenging.

Kelly: You're talking about Wigan, naturally. What made did Wigan become the right club for you at that period? The location was distant from all you knew in London - why did it work so effectively?

Reece: The primary factor is that I featured week in week out, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my friends and family and had to grow up fast. Playing on a consistent basis helped significantly.

Kelly: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your career?

The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's almost old enough to be my father and has played at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the moment he joined and still does, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in that year].

Kelly: In what way would he assist you?

Reece: These were little messages away from games. During matches, he would sometimes observe situations that I perceived alternatively and try and offer alternative perspectives.

The presenter: It must have been nice to meet him recently [during the tournament]?

The defender: It proved great to see him again. I'm pleased that his team performed admirably in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions his team]. It's always good to see him.

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

James: Assuming the result is going to be the identical - it would be the European Cup decider.

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