Style Obsession, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

• Published
  47 minutes ago

The Football Interview represents an innovative program in which leading personalities from sports and entertainment participate with host the interviewer for candid and detailed dialogues about football.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and personal reflections. The Football Interview uncovers the individual beyond the athlete.

The Chelsea defender started practicing with the London club at the age of six and - after developing through the academy and into the first team - is now club captain.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, netting on his debut in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in September 2019.

Now 25, his professional achievements to date include earning his England debut against the Welsh team in the year 2020, claiming the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.

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

James sat down with Kelly Somers to discuss his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

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

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

Kelly: Has it always been a that particular coffee?

James: No, I began with, such as, flavored coffees and stuff.

Kelly: Let's start by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold 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 simply adored playing football.

The interviewer: Your first recollection of participating? Is this tough to answer because it was such a big part of your early years and growing up?

James: Not particularly, just because my recollection is quite poor. My earliest memory was probably, unsure, going to watch my brother compete. He's two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was significant in your household, wasn't it, because your dad was so heavily involved? He's a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Share with me a bit about that.

Reece: Well there was three children growing up. We were all football mad, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

The presenter: Can you recall many of those sessions? Because I read that as young as the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he was doing drills with you in the back garden.

James: Yes, I remember - the training began early. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for myself and my sibling [the club and England attacker his sister].

The interviewer: Talk to me about your initial club that you played for as a youngster, what was it called, and your memories?

Reece: I don't remember much, to be honest. It was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I think I played for about twelve months. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

The host: And you weren't a backline player at initially, were you? Explain about your positional journey and how that changed...

James: I began as a forward, and then eventually moved to wide positions, left wing, right side, and later to midfield, and then finally at defensive role, and I disliked it at that period.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

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

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

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

The host: Identify a pivotal moment in your career - a moment that has shaped you and the professional you have evolved into?

Reece: I'd likely identify going on loan. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is most challenging and that is probably what many athletes transitioning upwards find difficult.

The presenter: You're referring to the club, naturally. Why was Wigan the right club for you at the time? The location was distant from all you were familiar with in the capital - why did it work so effectively?

James: The first thing is that I featured consistently, which helps. I gained valuable exposure - I relocated from my companions and family and had to grow up fast. Playing on a regular schedule assisted a lot.

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

Reece: I'd identify [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's almost sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at the highest level for so long. He always tried to help me from the minute he arrived and still does, 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 away from games. During matches, he occasionally see things that I perceived alternatively and try and offer alternative perspectives.

Kelly: It must have been pleasant to meet him recently [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It proved wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his team did well in the competition [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions his team]. It is always good to encounter him.

The interviewer: Were you able to go back and replay one match in your professional history, which would you pick?

Reece: If the outcome is going to be the same - it would be the European Cup decider.

Kelly: Besides winning, what made it exceptional about that night