Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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The Football Interview constitutes an innovative program where prominent figures from sports and show business participate with presenter the interviewer for frank and comprehensive dialogues about football.

The program examines mindset and drive, covering defining moments, professional achievements and individual insights. This series uncovers the person behind the player.

Reece James started training with Chelsea at six years old and - after developing through the academy and into the first team - is now club captain.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, scoring on his debut in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights so far include making his international bow against the Welsh team in the year 2020, winning the Champions League with his club in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries impacting him over the past four seasons.

James sat down with the interviewer to discuss his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

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

Reece James: The name is Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect more people will know that location. My coffee is a flat white.

The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

Reece: Not exactly, it started with, like, flavored coffees and stuff.

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

Reece: I mean, from a little kid, it was practically my entire focus in school. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I just loved playing football.

Kelly: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this difficult to answer because it represented a significant aspect of your childhood and growing up?

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

The host: It was big in your household, wasn't it, because your father was so heavily involved? He is a football coach too, right? Tell me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well we were three children during childhood. We were all football mad, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

Kelly: Do you remember a lot of those sessions? Because I learned that as young as the age of four, you were outside and he conducted exercises with you in the back garden.

James: Yes, I remember - the training started young. Fortunately, they paid off for me and my sibling [Chelsea and national team attacker his sister].

Kelly: Talk to me about your initial club that you represented as a child, its name, and what can you remember?

Reece: My recollection is limited, frankly. It was the local team in the area. I think I was there for about twelve months. It was from there that I was scouted for Chelsea.

Kelly: And you weren't a defender at first, correct? Talk to me about your positional journey and its development...

James: I started off as a forward, and then subsequently transitioned to wide positions, left wing, right wing, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at right-back, and I disliked it at that period.

The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?

The athlete: Since I consistently desired to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the football as much but one day everything fell into place and I became a defender since.

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

Reece: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he was the player I admired.

The host: Identify a turning point in your career - a moment that has influenced your development and the professional you have become?

Reece: I would probably say the loan spell. Bridging the gap between academy and first-team football is the hardest and that is likely what most players transitioning upwards find challenging.

Kelly: You're talking about the club, naturally. What made was Wigan the ideal team for you at that period? The location was distant from everything you were familiar with in London - what made it successful so effectively?

James: The primary factor is that I featured consistently, which helps. I gained valuable exposure - I relocated from my companions and relatives and was forced to mature fast. Playing on a consistent basis assisted significantly.

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

Reece: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He is nearly sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at the highest level for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the moment he joined and continues to, even now he is not here [having left Chelsea in 2024].

The host: In what way would he assist you?

James: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally see things that I perceived alternatively and attempt and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly pleasant to see him this summer [during the tournament]?

Reece: It was wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his club performed admirably in the tournament [they lost in the penultimate round to eventual winners his team]. It's consistently positive to encounter him.

The interviewer: Were you able to go back and replay a single game in your professional history, which would you pick?

James: Assuming the result is remains the identical - it would be the Champions League [final].

The host: Other than winning, what was so special about the occasion