Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton
- Published
This Sports Conversation represents a new series in which prominent figures from athletics and show business participate with host Kelly Somers for candid and comprehensive discussions about the beautiful game.
The program examines mental approach and drive, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and personal reflections. The Football Interview uncovers the person beyond the athlete.
Reece James began training with Chelsea at six years old and - after developing through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now club captain.
James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, scoring on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over the opposition in September 2019.
Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements to date include making his England debut against the Welsh team in the year 2020, winning the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.
Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries affecting him over the past four seasons.
The athlete spoke with Kelly Somers to discuss his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.
The defender discusses the veteran's influence on his career
Kelly Somers: First question: name, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?
Reece James: I am Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will recognize that location. My coffee is a specific coffee type.
The host: Has it always been a that particular coffee?
Reece: Not exactly, it started with, such as, vanilla lattes and similar drinks.
The presenter: Let's start by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold to you?
Reece: Essentially, from a little kid, it was practically all I knew in school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I just loved the sport.
The interviewer: Your first recollection of participating? Is this difficult to answer because it was such a big part of your childhood and development?
Reece: Not particularly, simply due to my memory is so bad. My first remembrance was likely, I don't know, attending matches of my brother play. He is two years older than me, and he used to play as well.
Kelly: It was big in your household, correct, because your father was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, right? Tell me a bit about that.
Reece: So we were three children during childhood. We were all football mad, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.
The presenter: Can you recall a lot of those sessions? Because I learned that starting from the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he was doing drills with you in the yard.
James: Yeah, I recall - the training started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for myself and my sibling [the club and national team forward his sister].
The interviewer: Tell me about your initial club that you played for as a youngster, what was it called, and your memories?
The defender: My recollection is limited, to be honest. It was the local team in Kew. I believe I was there for about a year. From that point that I was scouted for the professional club.
The host: And you weren't a backline player at initially, correct? Explain about your role evolution and how that changed...
Reece: I began as a striker, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left wing, right side, and later to central positions, and then eventually at defensive role, and I hated it at that period.
The presenter: Why did you hate it?
Reece: Since I always wanted to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the ball as much but one day everything fell into place and I became a defender since.
Reece James won the prestigious trophy in 2021 when his team defeated Manchester City by one goal in the final in Porto
The interviewer: You said you started as an attacker - who served as your role model?
Reece: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a supporter growing up and he was the athlete I admired.
The host: Identify a pivotal moment in your professional life - a moment that has influenced your development and the professional you have become?
The defender: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Transitioning between academy and senior level is the hardest and that is likely what most players transitioning upwards find challenging.
The presenter: You're talking about the club, of course. What made did Wigan become the ideal team for you at that period? It was distant from everything you were familiar with in London - why did it work so well?
Reece: The primary factor is that I featured consistently, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and family and was forced to mature fast. Playing on a consistent basis helped significantly.
The interviewer: Who has had the biggest impact on your career?
The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He is almost old enough to be my father and has competed at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he arrived and still does, even now he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].
The host: In what way would he help you?
James: It was little messages away from games. On the pitch, he would sometimes see things that I perceived differently and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.
Kelly: It must have been pleasant to meet him this summer [during the tournament]?
Reece: It proved great to see him again. I'm happy that his team did well in the tournament [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions Chelsea]. It is consistently positive to see him.
The interviewer: If you could return and replay one match in your professional history, what would you choose?
James: If the outcome is remains the same - I'd select the Champions League [final].
The host: Other than victory, what made it exceptional about the occasion