Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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The Football Interview constitutes a new series in which prominent figures from sports and show business join host the interviewer for frank and detailed discussions about football.

We'll explore mindset and drive, covering defining moments, career highlights and individual insights. This series uncovers the person beyond the athlete.

Reece James began training with Chelsea at six years old and - having progressed through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now team leader.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in September 2019.

Now 25, his professional achievements so far include making his international bow against the Welsh team in the year 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

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

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Kelly Somers: First question: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: The name is Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I expect more people will know that location. My beverage is a flat white.

The host: Has it always been a that particular coffee?

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

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

Reece: Essentially, from childhood, it's kind of all I knew in education. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I simply adored the sport.

Kelly: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this difficult to answer because it represented a big part of your early years and growing up?

Reece: Not particularly, simply due to my recollection is quite poor. My earliest memory was probably, unsure, attending matches of my brother play. He's two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

The host: It was big in your family, correct, because your father was so heavily involved? He's a football coach too, right? Share with me a bit about that.

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

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

Reece: Yes, I remember - the drills started young. Fortunately, they paid off for myself and my sister [Chelsea and national team forward Lauren James].

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

Reece: My recollection is limited, frankly. That was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I believe I played for about twelve months. It was from there that I was scouted for Chelsea.

The host: You didn't start as a defender at first, correct? Talk to me about your positional journey and its development...

Reece: I began as a forward, and then eventually transitioned to the wing, left wing, right wing, and later to central positions, and then finally at defensive role, and I hated it at that period.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

Reece: Since I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the football as frequently but eventually everything fell into place and I've been a defender since.

The interviewer: You said you started as an attacker - who was your idol?

Reece: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I was a supporter during youth and he was the athlete I looked up to.

Kelly: Identify a turning point in your professional life - a moment that has influenced your development and the professional you have evolved into?

Reece: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between academy and senior level is the hardest and this represents likely what many athletes making the jump find challenging.

The presenter: You're talking about the club, of course. Why was Wigan the ideal team for you at that period? The location was miles away from all you were familiar with in the capital - what made it successful so well?

James: The first thing is that I played week in week out, which proves beneficial. I gained a lot of experiences - 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?

The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's almost old enough to be my father and has competed at the highest level for so long. He always tried to help me from the minute he joined and still does, presently he is departed [having left Chelsea in 2024].

The host: In what way would he assist you?

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

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

Reece: It proved wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his club did well in the competition [they were defeated in the semi-finals to eventual winners his team]. It's consistently positive to encounter him.

Kelly: If you could return and replay one match in your career, which would you pick?

James: Assuming the result is remains the identical - I'd select the Champions League [final].

The host: Other than victory, what made it exceptional about the occasion