Style Obsession, Looking Up To Didier Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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The Football Interview constitutes a new series where leading personalities from athletics and entertainment join presenter Kelly Somers for frank and comprehensive discussions about the beautiful game.

The program examines mindset and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, professional achievements and personal reflections. This series uncovers the individual beyond the athlete.

Reece James started practicing with the London club at the age of six and - having progressed through the academy and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, netting on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements to date include making his international bow against Wales in the year 2020, winning the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

However, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries impacting him over the past four seasons.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner the racing driver.

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

The athlete: The name is Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will know that area. My beverage is a specific coffee type.

The host: Has it always been a that particular coffee?

James: Not exactly, it started with, like, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

Kelly: We'll begin by talking football. What does football mean to you?

Reece: I mean, from a little kid, it's kind of all I knew in education. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I simply adored the sport.

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this tough to respond to because it was such a significant aspect of your early years and growing up?

Reece: Not particularly, simply due to my recollection is so bad. My first remembrance was likely, I don't know, attending matches of my sibling compete. He is two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was big in your family, correct, because your dad was deeply engaged? He is a football coach too, right? Tell me a little about that.

Reece: So we were three of us during childhood. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

The presenter: Do you remember many of those sessions? Since I learned that as young as the four years old, you were outside and he conducted exercises with you in the yard.

Reece: Yes, I recall - the training started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for me and my sibling [the club and England forward Lauren James].

The interviewer: Tell me about your first ever team that you played for as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

Reece: My recollection is limited, to be honest. It was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I think I was there for about a year. It was from there that I was scouted for Chelsea.

Kelly: And you weren't a backline player at initially, correct? Talk to me about your role evolution and its development...

Reece: I began as a striker, and then eventually moved to the wing, left wing, right side, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at right-back, and I hated it at the time.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

Reece: Since I consistently desired to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the football as much but eventually everything fell into place and I've been a right-back since.

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

James: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a Chelsea fan growing up and he was the player I looked up to.

Kelly: Identify a turning point in your professional life - a moment that has influenced your development and the player you have become?

Reece: I would probably say going on loan. Bridging the gap between academy and first-team football is the hardest and this represents likely what many athletes making the jump find difficult.

The presenter: You're talking about Wigan, of course. Why did Wigan become the right club for you at the time? The location was distant from everything you were familiar with in London - what made it successful so effectively?

Reece: The first thing is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I gained valuable exposure - I moved away from my companions and relatives and had to mature quickly. Playing on a consistent basis assisted significantly.

The interviewer: Who has had the biggest impact on your career?

Reece: I'd identify [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's nearly sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for so long. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he joined and continues to, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in that year].

The host: In what way would he help you?

James: These were little messages away from games. On the pitch, he occasionally see things that I saw alternatively and try and offer alternative perspectives.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly nice to meet him recently [during the tournament]?

Reece: It was wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his team did well in the competition [they lost in the penultimate round to eventual winners his team]. It is always good to encounter him.

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

James: If the outcome is going to be the identical - it would be the Champions League [final].

The host: Other than winning, what made it exceptional about the occasion