Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton
- Published
This Sports Conversation constitutes an innovative program in which prominent figures from athletics and entertainment participate with presenter the interviewer for frank and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.
We'll explore mental approach and motivation, discussing pivotal experiences, career highlights and individual insights. This series reveals the individual behind the athlete.
The Chelsea defender started training with the London club at six years old and - having progressed through the youth system and into the first team - is now club captain.
James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, netting on his debut in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in 2019.
Now 25, his professional achievements so far include making his England debut against Wales in the year 2020, winning the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.
Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries impacting him over recent years.
The athlete spoke with the interviewer to discuss his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.
'He's nearly old enough to be my dad' - Reece James reveals the veteran's influence on his career
Kelly Somers: First question: name, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?
Reece James: I am Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect more people will know that area. My coffee is a flat white.
Kelly: Has it always been a that particular coffee?
Reece: Not exactly, it started with, like, flavored coffees and similar drinks.
Kelly: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What does football mean to you?
Reece: Essentially, from childhood, it was practically all I knew in school. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I just loved the sport.
The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this tough to respond to because it represented a big part of your early years and development?
James: No, simply due to my memory is quite poor. My first remembrance was likely, unsure, going to watch my sibling compete. He's my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.
The host: It was significant in your household, correct, because your dad was so heavily involved? He is a soccer trainer too, right? Tell me a little about that.
The athlete: So we were three of us during childhood. It was all football mad, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we used to train extensively with him.
Kelly: Do you remember a lot of those sessions? Because I learned that starting from the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he was doing exercises with you in the yard.
Reece: Yes, I remember - the training started young. Thankfully, they paid off for myself and my sibling [the club and England attacker Lauren James].
Kelly: Talk to me about your first ever team that you represented as a child, what was it called, and what can you remember?
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. From that point that I was scouted for the professional club.
Kelly: And you weren't a defender at initially, correct? Explain about your positional journey and how that changed...
Reece: I started off as a forward, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left side, right side, and later to central positions, 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. You didn't touch the ball as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I've been a right-back since.
The defender claimed the prestigious trophy in that year when his team defeated Manchester City by one goal in the championship match in Porto
Kelly: You said you started as a forward - who was your idol?
Reece: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a Chelsea fan during youth and he represented the player I looked up to.
The host: Identify a turning point in your career - an experience that has influenced your development and the professional you have evolved into?
The defender: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Bridging the gap between youth and first-team football is the hardest and that is probably what most players transitioning upwards find difficult.
The presenter: You're referring to the club, naturally. What made was Wigan the right club for you at that period? It was miles away from all you knew in London - why did it work so well?
Reece: The first thing is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my friends and family and had to grow up fast. Participating on a consistent basis 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 nearly sufficiently experienced to be my father and has played at the highest level for so long. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he arrived and still does, even now he is departed [after leaving the club in 2024].
Kelly: In what way would he help you?
Reece: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he would sometimes see things that I perceived differently and attempt and paint a different picture.
The presenter: It was undoubtedly pleasant to meet him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?
Reece: It proved wonderful to see him again. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the tournament [they were defeated in the semi-finals to eventual winners Chelsea]. It's consistently positive to see him.
The interviewer: If you could go back and replay a single game in your career, what would you choose?
James: If the outcome is remains the same - I'd select the Champions League [final].
Kelly: Other than victory, what was so special about that night
