Style Obsession, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents an innovative program in which leading personalities from athletics and show business participate with presenter Kelly Somers for frank and detailed discussions about football.

The program examines mindset and drive, discussing defining moments, professional achievements and individual insights. This series uncovers the person behind the athlete.

The Chelsea defender began practicing with Chelsea at six years old and - having progressed through the academy and into the first team - is now team leader.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, netting on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over the opposition in 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights to date include making his England debut against the Welsh team in 2020, winning the European Cup 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 talk about his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: Initial inquiry: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

The athlete: The name is Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I expect more people will recognize that area. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

Kelly: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

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

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

Reece: Essentially, from childhood, it was practically my entire focus in school. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I just loved playing football.

Kelly: Your first recollection of participating? Is this difficult to respond to because it represented a big part of your childhood and development?

Reece: Not particularly, simply due to my recollection is so bad. My earliest memory was likely, I don't know, going to watch my brother compete. He is my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was big in your household, correct, because your dad was so heavily involved? He is a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Tell me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well we were three of us during childhood. It was all football mad, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

The presenter: Do you remember many of those sessions? Since I learned that as young as the four years old, you were outside and he conducted exercises with you in the yard.

James: Yes, I remember - the drills began early. Thankfully, they paid off for myself and my sister [Chelsea and England attacker his sister].

Kelly: Talk to me about your initial club that you represented as a child, its name, and your memories?

The defender: My recollection is limited, to be honest. That was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I believe I played 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? Explain about your role evolution and its development...

Reece: I started off as a forward, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left side, right side, and later to central positions, and then finally at defensive role, and I disliked it at that period.

The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?

The athlete: Because I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the football as much but eventually it just clicked and I became a defender since.

The interviewer: You mentioned you started as a forward - who served as your idol?

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

Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your professional life - an experience that has shaped you and the professional you have become?

Reece: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between academy and senior level is most challenging and this represents probably what most players transitioning upwards find difficult.

Kelly: You're talking about Wigan, naturally. What made was Wigan the ideal team for you at the time? It was miles away 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 valuable exposure - I moved away from my friends and relatives and was forced to grow up fast. Participating on a regular schedule helped significantly.

Kelly: Who has had the biggest impact on your professional journey?

Reece: I'd identify [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's nearly sufficiently experienced to be my father and has played at the highest level for so long. He always tried to assist me from the moment he arrived and still does, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].

Kelly: How specifically would he help you?

Reece: These were little messages away from games. During matches, he would sometimes observe situations that I saw differently and attempt and paint a different picture.

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

Reece: It was great to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the tournament [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions his team]. It's always good to see him.

Kelly: Were you able to return and experience again a single game in your professional history, which would you pick?

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

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