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

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The Football Interview constitutes a new series in which leading personalities from sports and entertainment join presenter Kelly Somers for candid and detailed discussions about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mental approach and drive, discussing pivotal experiences, career highlights and individual insights. The Football Interview reveals the individual beyond the player.

Reece James started training with the London club at six years old and - having progressed through the youth system and into the first team - is now club captain.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements so far include making his England debut against the Welsh team in 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries affecting him over the past four seasons.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to discuss his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

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

Reece James: I am Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I expect more people will know that area. My beverage is a specific coffee type.

Kelly: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

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

The presenter: Let's start by talking football. What significance does soccer hold to you?

Reece: Essentially, from a little kid, it was practically all I knew in education. I wasn't the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

Kelly: Your first recollection of participating? Is this tough to respond to because it represented a big part of your early years 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 my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was significant in your family, wasn't it, because your father was deeply engaged? He is a football coach too, right? Tell me a little about that.

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

Kelly: Can you recall a lot of those training periods? Because I read that as young as the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he conducted exercises with you in the yard.

James: Yeah, I remember - the drills started young. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for me and my sister [Chelsea and national team forward Lauren James].

The interviewer: Tell me about your initial club that you played for as a child, its name, and what can you remember?

Reece: My recollection is limited, frankly. That was the local team in the area. I think I was there for about a year. From that point that I was scouted for the professional club.

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

James: I began as a striker, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left side, right side, and eventually to central positions, and then finally at defensive role, and I disliked it at the time.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Since I always wanted to play midfield. There was less involvement with the ball as much but one day it just clicked and I've been a defender since.

Kelly: You mentioned you started as a forward - who was your idol?

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

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

The defender: I would probably say the loan spell. Bridging the gap between youth and first-team football is most challenging and this represents likely what most players making the jump find challenging.

The presenter: You're referring to the club, naturally. Why was Wigan the ideal team for you at that period? It was distant from all you knew in the capital - why did it work so effectively?

Reece: The primary factor is that I played consistently, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my friends and relatives and had to mature fast. Playing on a regular schedule helped a lot.

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

Reece: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. 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 minute he joined and still does, even now he is not here [having left Chelsea in that year].

Kelly: In what way would he help you?

James: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally observe situations that I perceived alternatively and try and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly nice to meet him this summer [during the tournament]?

Reece: It proved great to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his club performed admirably in the competition [they lost in the penultimate round to eventual winners his team]. It's consistently positive to encounter him.

Kelly: Were you able to return and experience again one match in your professional history, what would you choose?

James: If the outcome is remains the identical - I'd select the European Cup decider.

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