Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

• Published
  47 minutes ago

The Football Interview constitutes a new series in which leading personalities from sports and show business participate with host the interviewer for frank and comprehensive discussions about football.

The program examines mindset and drive, discussing defining moments, professional achievements and personal reflections. The Football Interview reveals the person beyond the athlete.

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

The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, netting on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements to date include making his England debut against Wales in 2020, claiming the Champions League with his club in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.

However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues 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.

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

Reece James: I am Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect many will know that area. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

Kelly: Has it always been a flat white?

James: No, I began with, such as, flavored coffees and stuff.

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

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

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

James: No, just because my memory is quite poor. My earliest memory was likely, unsure, going to watch my sibling compete. He is my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.

The host: It was significant in your household, wasn't it, because your dad was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, right? Tell me a little about that.

Reece: So we were three children during childhood. We were all football mad, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

Kelly: Can you recall a lot of those sessions? Since I learned that starting from the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted exercises with you in the yard.

Reece: Yeah, I recall - the drills started young. Fortunately, they paid off for myself and my sister [the club and England attacker his sister].

The interviewer: 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. That was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I believe I was there for about a year. It was from there that I was scouted for Chelsea.

The host: And you weren't a backline player at first, correct? Explain about your positional journey and how that changed...

James: I started off as a striker, and then subsequently transitioned to wide positions, left side, right side, and eventually to central positions, and then eventually at right-back, and I hated it at that period.

The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?

The athlete: Because I consistently desired to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the ball as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

Kelly: You mentioned you began as a forward - who was your role model?

James: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter during youth and he represented the player I looked up to.

Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your career - an experience that has influenced your development and the player you have evolved into?

The defender: I'd likely identify going on loan. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is the hardest and that is likely what most players making the jump find challenging.

Kelly: You're referring to Wigan, naturally. What made was Wigan the right club for you at that period? The location was distant from all you knew in the capital - why did it work so well?

James: The first thing is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I gained a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and family and had to mature quickly. Playing on a consistent basis assisted a lot.

The interviewer: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your career?

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 so long. He always tried to assist me from the moment he joined and continues to, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in 2024].

The host: In what way would he assist you?

James: It was small pieces of advice away from games. During matches, he occasionally see things that I saw alternatively and try and paint a different picture.

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

The defender: It was great to see him again. I'm happy that his club performed admirably in the tournament [they lost in the penultimate round to the champions Chelsea]. It's consistently positive to encounter him.

The interviewer: If you could return and experience again one match in your professional history, which would you pick?

Reece: If the outcome is going to be the same - it would be the Champions League [final].

The host: Other than winning, what was so special about the occasion