Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

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The Football Interview constitutes a new series where prominent figures from sports and show business join host the interviewer for candid and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mindset and motivation, covering defining moments, career highlights and individual insights. This series reveals the individual beyond the player.

The Chelsea defender began practicing with Chelsea at six years old and - after developing through the youth system and into the first team - is now team leader.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, netting on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights so far include earning his England debut against the Welsh team in 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.

However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries affecting him over the past four seasons.

The athlete spoke with Kelly Somers to discuss his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his relationship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: First question: name, your origins, and what's your coffee order?

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

Kelly: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

Reece: Not exactly, I began with, such as, vanilla lattes and similar drinks.

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

Reece: Essentially, from a little kid, it's kind of all I knew in education. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I just loved playing football.

Kelly: Your first recollection of playing? Is this tough to respond to because it was such a big part of your childhood and development?

James: No, simply due to my recollection is quite poor. My first remembrance was probably, unsure, going to watch my brother compete. He's my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.

Kelly: It was significant in your family, wasn't it, because your dad was so heavily involved? He is a football coach too, right? Tell me a little about that.

The athlete: Well we were three children during childhood. It was all football mad, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

The presenter: Can you recall a lot of those training periods? Because I learned that as young as the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he was doing exercises with you in the yard.

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

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

The defender: My recollection is limited, to be honest. That was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I believe I was there for about twelve months. It was from there that I was scouted for the professional club.

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

James: I began as a forward, and then subsequently transitioned to the wing, left side, right wing, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at defensive role, and I hated it at the time.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Since I always wanted to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the football as frequently but eventually it just clicked and I've been a right-back since.

The interviewer: You said you started as a forward - who was your role model?

James: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a Chelsea fan during youth and he represented the player I looked up to.

Kelly: Can you think of a turning point in your career - a moment that has shaped you and the professional you have evolved into?

Reece: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is most challenging and this represents likely what most players making the jump find difficult.

Kelly: You're talking about the club, naturally. What made was Wigan the ideal team for you at that period? The location was miles away from everything you were familiar with in London - what made it successful so well?

Reece: The first thing is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I gained valuable exposure - I relocated from my companions and relatives and was forced to grow up fast. Participating on a consistent basis assisted a lot.

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

Reece: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He's nearly old enough to be my father and has played at the highest level for many years. He always tried to assist me from the moment he arrived and continues to, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in 2024].

The host: How specifically would he help you?

Reece: It was little messages away from games. On the pitch, he would sometimes see things that I perceived alternatively and attempt and paint a different picture.

Kelly: It must have been pleasant to see him recently [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It was wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his club did well in the competition [they lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners 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?

Reece: Assuming the result is going to be the same - it would be the European Cup decider.

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