Style Obsession, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Bond with Lewis Hamilton

• Published
  47 minutes ago

The Football Interview constitutes a new series where leading personalities from athletics and entertainment join host the interviewer for frank and detailed discussions about football.

The program examines mindset and drive, discussing defining moments, career highlights and individual insights. The Football Interview uncovers the person beyond the player.

The Chelsea defender began practicing with Chelsea at six years old and - after developing through the academy and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, netting on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Now 25, his professional achievements to date include earning his international bow against the Welsh team in the year 2020, winning the Champions League with his club in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues affecting him over recent years.

The athlete spoke with Kelly Somers to discuss his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: Initial inquiry: identity, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will recognize that location. My beverage is a specific coffee type.

Kelly: Was it consistently a flat white?

Reece: No, I began with, such as, vanilla lattes and stuff.

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

Reece: Essentially, from childhood, it's kind of my entire focus in school. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I just loved playing football.

Kelly: Your first recollection of participating? Is this difficult to answer because it was such a big part of your childhood and growing up?

Reece: Not particularly, just because my memory is quite poor. My earliest memory was probably, I don't know, going to watch my brother compete. He's two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

Kelly: It was significant in your family, wasn't it, because your dad was deeply engaged? He is a soccer trainer too, right? Tell me a little about that.

Reece: So there was three of us growing up. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

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

James: Yeah, I recall - the drills began early. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for me and my sibling [the club and England forward Lauren James].

Kelly: Tell 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 the area. I believe I was there for about a year. It was from there that I was scouted for Chelsea.

Kelly: You didn't start as a backline player at initially, correct? Talk to me about your role evolution and its development...

Reece: I started off as a forward, and then eventually transitioned to the wing, left wing, right side, and later to central positions, and then finally at defensive role, and I disliked it at that period.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

Reece: Because I always wanted to play midfield. You didn't touch the ball as frequently but eventually it just clicked and I've been a right-back since.

Kelly: You mentioned you began as an attacker - who was your role model?

James: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I was a supporter during youth and he was the player I admired.

Kelly: Can you think of a turning point in your professional life - an experience that has influenced your development and the player you have become?

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

The presenter: You're referring to Wigan, of course. What made was Wigan the ideal team for you at the time? The location was distant from all you knew in London - what made it successful so effectively?

James: The first thing is that I played consistently, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my friends and relatives and was forced to grow up fast. Participating on a consistent basis helped a lot.

Kelly: Who has had the greatest influence on your professional journey?

The athlete: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] the veteran. He is almost sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has played at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he joined and still does, presently he is not here [having left Chelsea in that year].

Kelly: How specifically would he assist you?

Reece: These were little messages off the pitch. During matches, he would sometimes see things that I saw differently and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.

Kelly: It was undoubtedly nice to see him this summer [during the tournament]?

The defender: It proved wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to eventual winners Chelsea]. It is consistently positive to see him.

Kelly: Were you able to return and experience again one match in your career, what would you choose?

Reece: Assuming the result is remains the same - I'd select the European Cup decider.

The host: Besides winning, what was so special about that night