Style Obsession, Idolizing Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

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The Football Interview constitutes an innovative program where prominent figures from athletics and entertainment join presenter Kelly Somers for frank and detailed dialogues about football.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, discussing pivotal experiences, career highlights and personal reflections. This series uncovers the person beyond the player.

The Chelsea defender began training with the London club at the age of six and - having progressed through the academy and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, scoring on his debut in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights to date include making his England debut against the Welsh team in 2020, claiming the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

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

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

The interviewer: First question: name, your origins, and what's your coffee order?

The athlete: I am Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I expect many will know that area. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

Kelly: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

James: Not exactly, I began with, such as, vanilla lattes and similar drinks.

The presenter: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold to you?

Reece: Essentially, from childhood, it's kind of all I knew in education. I wasn't the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

The interviewer: Your first recollection of participating? Is this difficult to respond to because it was such a big part of your childhood and development?

Reece: No, just because my recollection is quite poor. My first remembrance was probably, I don't know, going to watch my sibling play. He's my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.

Kelly: It was big in your household, correct, because your father was deeply engaged? He's a soccer trainer too, right? Share with me a bit about that.

Reece: So there was three children growing up. We were all football mad, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

Kelly: Can you recall many of those training periods? Because I learned that starting from the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted exercises with you in the yard.

Reece: Yes, I recall - the drills began early. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for myself and my sister [the club and England forward his sister].

Kelly: Tell 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. That was the local team in Kew. I think I was there for about twelve months. From that point that I was scouted for the professional club.

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

James: I began as a striker, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left side, right wing, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at right-back, and I hated it at the time.

The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Because I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the football as much but eventually everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

The interviewer: You said you began as a forward - who was your idol?

James: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I grew up as a Chelsea fan during youth and he represented 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?

The defender: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and senior level is most challenging and that is likely what most players transitioning upwards find difficult.

The presenter: You're talking about Wigan, of course. Why did Wigan become the right club for you at the time? The location was distant from all you knew in London - why did it work so well?

Reece: The first thing is that I featured week in week out, which helps. I gained a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and family and had to grow up quickly. Participating on a consistent basis helped a lot.

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

The athlete: I'd identify [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's nearly sufficiently experienced to be my father and has played at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he joined and continues to, presently he is departed [having left Chelsea in that year].

The host: How specifically would he assist you?

James: It was small pieces of advice away from games. During matches, he would sometimes observe situations that I saw alternatively and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.

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

The defender: It was wonderful to see him again. I'm happy that his club performed admirably in the tournament [they lost in the penultimate round to the champions Chelsea]. It is always good to see him.

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

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

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