Style Obsession, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents a new series in which prominent figures from athletics and show business join presenter Kelly Somers for frank and comprehensive dialogues about football.

The program examines mindset and motivation, discussing pivotal experiences, career highlights and personal reflections. The Football Interview uncovers the person beyond the player.

Reece James began practicing with the London club at six years old and - having progressed through the academy and into the first team - is now club captain.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, netting on his debut in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights to date include earning his England debut against Wales in the year 2020, winning the European Cup with his club 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 the past four seasons.

James sat down with the interviewer to discuss his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

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

The athlete: The name is Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect many will know that location. My beverage is a flat white.

The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

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

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

Reece: I mean, from childhood, it was practically my entire focus in education. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I simply adored the sport.

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of playing? Is this tough to respond to because it represented a significant aspect of your early years and growing up?

Reece: No, simply due to my memory is so bad. My earliest memory was likely, unsure, going to watch my sibling play. He's two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

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

The athlete: Well we were three of us growing up. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

Kelly: Can you recall a lot of those sessions? Since I read that as young as the age of four, you were outside and he conducted drills with you in the yard.

James: Yeah, I remember - the training began early. Thankfully, they paid off for myself and my sibling [Chelsea and national team forward Lauren James].

Kelly: Talk to me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, what was it called, and what can you remember?

The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. That was the local team in Kew. I think I was there for about a year. It was from there that I was scouted for Chelsea.

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

Reece: I started off as a forward, and then subsequently moved to the wing, left side, right wing, and eventually to central positions, and then eventually at right-back, and I hated it at that period.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

Reece: Since I consistently desired to play midfield. There was less involvement with the ball as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I've been a right-back since.

Kelly: You mentioned you began as an attacker - who served as your idol?

Reece: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter growing up and he was the player I admired.

The host: Can you think of a turning point in your professional life - an experience that has shaped you and the professional you have evolved into?

The defender: I'd likely identify going on loan. Bridging the gap between youth and first-team football is most challenging and that is probably what most players transitioning upwards find challenging.

Kelly: You're referring to Wigan, naturally. What made did Wigan become the ideal team for you at that period? The location was miles away from everything you were familiar with in London - why did it work so effectively?

James: The primary factor is that I featured week in week out, which helps. I gained valuable exposure - I moved away from my friends and relatives and was forced to mature fast. Participating on a consistent basis assisted a lot.

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

The athlete: I'd identify [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's almost old enough to be my father and has competed at elite standard for so long. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he joined and still does, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in 2024].

The host: How specifically would he assist you?

James: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. On the pitch, he occasionally observe situations that I saw differently and try and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly nice to see him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It proved great to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions his team]. It is always good to encounter him.

Kelly: If you could return and replay 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 made it exceptional about the occasion