Fashion Passion, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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The Football Interview represents a new series in which leading personalities from athletics and entertainment participate with presenter the interviewer for candid and comprehensive discussions about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and individual insights. This series reveals the individual beyond the player.

Reece James started training with the London club at the age of six and - after developing through the youth system 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 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights to date include earning his England debut against the Welsh team in the year 2020, claiming the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.

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

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.

Kelly Somers: First question: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: The name is Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I'm sure many will recognize that location. My beverage is a flat white.

Kelly: Has it always been a flat white?

Reece: No, it started with, like, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

Kelly: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold to you?

Reece: Essentially, from a little kid, it was practically all I knew in education. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I just loved the sport.

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this difficult to respond to because it represented a big part of your childhood and development?

James: No, just because my memory is so bad. My earliest memory was likely, I don't know, attending matches of my brother compete. He's two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

The host: It was significant in your household, correct, because your father was deeply engaged? He is a football coach too, right? Tell me a bit about that.

The athlete: So there was three of us growing up. We were all football mad, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

Kelly: Can you recall many of those sessions? Because I read that starting from the four years old, you were outside and he conducted exercises with you in the yard.

James: Yes, I remember - the drills began early. Thankfully, they paid off for me and my sister [the club and England attacker Lauren James].

Kelly: Tell me about your initial club that you played for as a child, its name, and your memories?

The defender: I don't remember much, to be honest. That was the local team in the area. I believe I was there for about twelve months. It was from there that I was scouted for Chelsea.

Kelly: And you weren't a backline player at first, were you? Explain about your positional journey and its development...

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

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Since I always wanted to play midfield. There was less involvement with the ball as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

The interviewer: You mentioned you started as a forward - who was your idol?

Reece: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I was a supporter during youth and he represented the player I admired.

Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your career - an experience that has shaped you and the professional you have become?

Reece: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and senior level is the hardest and that is probably what many athletes making the jump find challenging.

Kelly: You're referring to the club, of course. Why did Wigan become the ideal team for you at that period? The location was distant from all you were familiar with in the capital - why did it work so effectively?

Reece: The first thing is that I played week in week out, which helps. I acquired valuable exposure - I relocated from my friends and family and was forced to mature quickly. Participating on a regular schedule helped significantly.

Kelly: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your career?

Reece: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] the veteran. He's almost sufficiently experienced to be my father and has played at elite standard for so long. He always tried to help me from the moment he arrived and continues to, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in 2024].

Kelly: How specifically would he assist you?

Reece: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he would sometimes see things that I saw alternatively and try and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It must have been nice to see him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It proved great to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his club performed admirably in the competition [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions his team]. It is consistently positive to encounter him.

The interviewer: If you could go back and experience again a single game in your professional history, which would you pick?

Reece: If the outcome is remains the same - I'd select the Champions League [final].

The host: Other than victory, what was so special about that night