Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton
- Published
The Football Interview represents a new series in which prominent figures from sports and entertainment join presenter Kelly Somers for frank and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.
We'll explore mental approach and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, professional achievements and individual insights. The Football Interview uncovers the individual behind the player.
The Chelsea defender started practicing with Chelsea at the age of six and - after developing through the academy and into the senior squad - is now team leader.
James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, scoring on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over the opposition in September 2019.
Now 25, James' career highlights so far include making his England debut against the Welsh team in 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.
Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries impacting him over recent years.
James sat down with the interviewer to talk about his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.
The defender discusses the veteran's influence on his professional journey
Kelly Somers: First question: identity, your origins, and what's your coffee order?
Reece James: I am Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect many will know that area. My beverage is a flat white.
Kelly: Has it always been a that particular coffee?
James: Not exactly, it started with, such as, vanilla lattes and stuff.
The presenter: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What does football mean to you?
The defender: Essentially, from a little kid, it was practically all I knew in education. I wasn't the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.
Kelly: What's your earliest memory of playing? Is this difficult to respond to because it represented a big part of your childhood and development?
James: No, just because my recollection is so bad. My earliest memory was probably, unsure, going to watch my brother play. He is my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.
Kelly: It was big in your household, wasn't it, because your dad was so heavily involved? He is a football coach too, isn't he? Tell me a bit about that.
The athlete: So we were three of us growing up. It was all football mad, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we used to train a lot with him.
The presenter: Can you recall many of those sessions? Because I learned that starting from the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he was doing exercises with you in the back garden.
Reece: Yes, I remember - the training began early. Thankfully, they paid off for me and my sister [the club and England forward Lauren James].
The interviewer: Talk to me about your first ever team that you represented as a child, what was it called, and your memories?
Reece: My recollection is limited, frankly. That was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I think I played for about twelve months. It was from there that talent spotters noticed me for Chelsea.
Kelly: You didn't start as a defender at first, were you? Talk to me about your positional journey and how that changed...
James: I started off as a striker, and then eventually moved to wide positions, left wing, right side, and eventually to midfield, and then finally at defensive role, and I disliked it at that period.
Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?
Reece: Since I always wanted to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the football as frequently but eventually it just clicked and I became a defender since.
The defender claimed the prestigious trophy in 2021 when his team defeated Man City by one goal in the final in Porto
The interviewer: You said you started as an attacker - who served as your idol?
Reece: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he was the athlete I admired.
Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your professional life - a moment that has shaped you and the professional you have evolved into?
The defender: I would probably say the loan spell. Bridging the gap between youth and senior level is the hardest and that is likely what most players transitioning upwards find difficult.
Kelly: You're talking about the club, of course. Why did Wigan become the right club for you at the time? The location was miles away from all you knew in the capital - what made it successful so well?
Reece: The first thing is that I featured week in week out, which proves beneficial. I acquired valuable exposure - I moved away from my companions and relatives and was forced to mature fast. Playing on a regular schedule assisted a lot.
The interviewer: Who has had the greatest influence on your professional journey?
The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's nearly sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to help me from the minute he arrived and continues to, presently he is not here [having left Chelsea in 2024].
The host: In what way would he help you?
James: These were small pieces of advice off the pitch. On the pitch, he would sometimes see things that I saw differently and try and offer alternative perspectives.
Kelly: It must have been nice to see him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?
Reece: It proved wonderful to see him again. I'm pleased that his team did well in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions Chelsea]. It's always good to encounter him.
The interviewer: Were you able to return and experience again one match in your career, what would you choose?
Reece: If the outcome is remains the identical - I'd select the European Cup decider.
Kelly: Besides victory, what was so special about the occasion
