Fashion Passion, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes an innovative program where leading personalities from sports and show business participate with presenter the interviewer for frank and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

The program examines mental approach and drive, discussing defining moments, professional achievements and individual insights. This series reveals the person beyond the player.

The Chelsea defender began practicing with Chelsea at six years old and - having progressed through the academy and into the senior squad - is now team leader.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, 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 international bow against the Welsh team in the year 2020, claiming the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.

However, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries impacting him over recent years.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with multiple Formula One title winner the racing driver.

Kelly Somers: First question: name, your origins, and what's your coffee order?

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

The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

James: No, I began with, such as, flavored coffees and stuff.

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

The defender: Essentially, from a little kid, it's kind of all I knew in school. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I just loved the sport.

Kelly: Your first recollection of participating? Is this difficult to respond to because it represented a significant aspect of your early years and growing up?

Reece: Not particularly, just because my recollection is quite poor. My earliest memory was likely, unsure, attending matches of my sibling compete. He's two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was big in your family, correct, because your dad was so heavily involved? He is a football coach too, isn't he? Share with me a little about that.

The athlete: Well we were three children growing up. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

The presenter: Can you recall many of those sessions? Because I learned that starting from the age of four, you were outside and he conducted drills with you in the yard.

Reece: Yeah, I recall - the training began early. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for myself and my sibling [the club and England forward his sister].

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

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

The host: You didn't start as a defender at initially, correct? Explain about your positional journey and how that changed...

Reece: I started off as a striker, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left side, right side, and later to central positions, and then eventually at right-back, and I hated it at that period.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

Reece: Because I always wanted to play midfield. There was less involvement with the football as frequently but eventually everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

The interviewer: You said you began as a forward - who was your role model?

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

The host: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your professional life - an experience that has influenced your development and the player you have become?

Reece: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Transitioning between academy and senior level is the hardest and that is likely what many athletes transitioning upwards find challenging.

Kelly: You're talking about Wigan, naturally. What made did Wigan become the right club for you at the time? It was distant from all you knew in London - why did it work so effectively?

James: The primary factor is that I featured week in week out, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and relatives and was forced to mature quickly. Participating on a regular schedule helped significantly.

Kelly: Which individual exerted 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 played at the highest level for so long. He consistently attempted to assist me from the moment he arrived and still does, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: In what way would he help you?

James: These were small pieces of advice away from games. During matches, he occasionally observe situations that I perceived differently and try and offer alternative perspectives.

The presenter: It must have been nice to see him this summer [during the tournament]?

The defender: It was great to see him again. I'm pleased that his team did well in the tournament [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions his team]. It is always good to encounter him.

The interviewer: Were you able to return and experience again a single game in your career, what would you choose?

Reece: If the outcome is remains the identical - it would be the Champions League [final].

Kelly: Other than victory, what made it exceptional about that night