Style Obsession, Idolizing Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

• Published
  47 minutes ago

The Football Interview constitutes an innovative program where prominent figures from athletics and show business join host Kelly Somers for candid and detailed dialogues about the beautiful game.

The program examines mental approach and drive, discussing defining moments, professional achievements and personal reflections. This series uncovers the person behind the athlete.

The Chelsea defender started practicing with Chelsea at the age of six and - having progressed through the academy and into the first team - is now club captain.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, scoring on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over the opposition in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements so far include earning his England debut against Wales in the year 2020, claiming the European Cup with his club 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 Kelly Somers to discuss his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

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

Reece James: The name is Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I expect many will recognize that area. My beverage is a specific coffee type.

The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

James: No, I began with, such as, vanilla lattes and similar drinks.

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

The defender: Essentially, from childhood, it's kind of all I knew in school. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I just loved playing football.

Kelly: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this difficult to answer because it represented a big part of your childhood and development?

Reece: Not particularly, simply due to my memory is so bad. My first remembrance was probably, unsure, attending matches of my sibling compete. He is two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was big in your household, correct, because your father was deeply engaged? He is a football coach too, right? Share with me a bit about that.

The athlete: So we were three of us during childhood. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

The presenter: Can you recall a lot of those sessions? Since I read that starting from the four years old, you were outside and he conducted exercises with you in the back garden.

James: Yes, I recall - the training began early. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for me and my sister [Chelsea and England attacker Lauren James].

Kelly: Tell me about your initial club that you played for as a child, what was it called, and your memories?

Reece: I don't remember much, to be honest. It was the local team in the area. I think I played for about twelve months. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

Kelly: You didn't start as a defender at first, were you? Talk to me about your role evolution and how that changed...

Reece: I started off as a striker, and then eventually transitioned to wide positions, left wing, right wing, and later to central positions, and then eventually at defensive role, and I disliked it at the time.

Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?

The athlete: Because I always wanted to play midfield. You didn't touch the ball as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I've been a defender since.

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

Reece: The player I admired was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan during youth and he was the athlete I admired.

The host: Identify a pivotal moment in your professional life - a moment that has shaped you and the player you have become?

The defender: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between academy and first-team football is most challenging and that is probably what many athletes transitioning upwards find difficult.

Kelly: You're talking about the club, naturally. Why was Wigan the ideal team for you at the time? It was distant from all you knew in the capital - why did it work so effectively?

James: The primary factor is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I gained a lot of experiences - I moved away from my friends and family and had to grow up fast. Participating on a regular schedule helped a lot.

Kelly: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your career?

Reece: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He is almost sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for so long. He always tried to assist me from the moment he joined and still does, even now he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: How specifically would he assist you?

Reece: These were small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally see things that I perceived differently and try and offer alternative perspectives.

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

Reece: It was wonderful to see him again. I'm happy that his club performed admirably in the competition [they lost in the semi-finals to the champions Chelsea]. It's consistently positive to encounter him.

The interviewer: Were you able to go back and experience again a single game in your career, which would you pick?

Reece: If the outcome is going to be the identical - it would be the European Cup decider.

The host: Besides winning, what made it exceptional about that night