Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes a new series where leading personalities from athletics and show business join host Kelly Somers for candid and detailed discussions about football.

The program examines mindset and drive, covering defining moments, career highlights and individual insights. This series uncovers the individual beyond the player.

Reece James began training with the London club at six years old and - after developing through the youth system and into the first team - is now team leader.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, netting on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over the opposition in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights so far include making his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, claiming the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries affecting him over recent years.

James sat down with the interviewer to discuss his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: Initial inquiry: name, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will know that location. My coffee is a flat white.

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

James: No, I began with, like, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

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

The defender: I mean, from childhood, it's kind of my entire focus in education. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I just loved playing football.

The interviewer: Your first recollection of participating? Is this difficult to answer because it represented a big part of your early years and development?

James: Not particularly, simply due to my recollection is so bad. My earliest memory was probably, unsure, attending matches of my sibling compete. He is 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 deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Share with me a little about that.

The athlete: Well we were three of us during childhood. It was all football mad, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

Kelly: Can you recall many of those sessions? Since I learned that as young as the four years old, you were outside and he was doing exercises with you in the yard.

James: Yeah, I recall - the drills began early. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for me and my sibling [Chelsea and national team forward Lauren James].

Kelly: Talk to me about your initial club that you played for as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

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

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

James: I started off as a striker, and then eventually moved to the wing, left wing, right wing, and eventually to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I hated it at that period.

The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Because I always wanted to play midfield. There was less involvement with the football as frequently but eventually everything fell into place and I've been a right-back since.

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

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

The host: Identify a turning point in your professional life - an experience that has influenced your development and the professional you have evolved into?

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

Kelly: You're referring to the club, naturally. Why was Wigan the ideal team for you at that period? It was distant from everything you knew in London - what made it successful so well?

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

The interviewer: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your career?

The athlete: I'd identify [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He is almost sufficiently experienced to be my father and has competed at the highest level for so long. He always tried to help me from the moment he arrived and continues to, even now he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].

Kelly: How specifically would he help you?

Reece: It was little messages off the pitch. On the pitch, he occasionally see things that I saw differently and attempt and paint a different picture.

Kelly: It was undoubtedly pleasant to meet him recently [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It proved great to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his club performed admirably in the tournament [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions Chelsea]. It's consistently positive to encounter him.

Kelly: If you could go back and replay one match in your professional history, what would you choose?

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

Kelly: Besides winning, what was so special about that night