Style Obsession, Idolizing Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

• Released
  Less than an hour ago

The Football Interview constitutes a new series where prominent figures from sports and show business join presenter Kelly Somers for frank and comprehensive discussions about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mental approach and drive, covering pivotal experiences, professional achievements and personal reflections. The Football Interview uncovers the person behind the player.

The Chelsea defender began training with the London club at six years old and - after developing through the academy and into the first team - is now team leader.

The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, netting on his debut in a comprehensive win over the opposition in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements so far include earning his England debut against the Welsh team in the year 2020, claiming the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

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

James sat down with the interviewer to discuss his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

The interviewer: Initial inquiry: identity, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?

The athlete: I am Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure many will recognize that location. My coffee is a flat white.

The host: Was it consistently a flat white?

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

Kelly: Let's start by talking football. What does football mean to you?

Reece: Essentially, from childhood, it's kind of all I knew in school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I simply adored the sport.

Kelly: Your first recollection of playing? Is this difficult to answer because it represented a significant aspect of your childhood and development?

James: No, simply due to my memory is quite poor. My first remembrance was likely, I don't know, attending matches of my sibling compete. He's my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was big in your household, wasn't it, because your father was deeply engaged? He is a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Share with me a bit about that.

Reece: So there was three children growing up. It was all football mad, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

The presenter: Can you recall many of those training periods? Because I learned that starting from the four years old, you were outside and he was doing drills with you in the back garden.

Reece: Yeah, I remember - the drills started young. Thankfully, they paid off for me and my sister [Chelsea and England forward his sister].

The interviewer: Tell me about your initial club that you represented as a child, what was it called, and what can you remember?

The defender: I don't remember much, frankly. That was the local team in the area. I think I played for about twelve months. From that point that I was scouted for the professional club.

The host: You didn't start as a defender at initially, were you? Talk to me about your role evolution and how that changed...

Reece: I began as a forward, and then eventually moved to the wing, left wing, right side, and later to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I disliked it at that period.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Since I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the ball as frequently but eventually everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

The interviewer: You said you started as an attacker - who served as your role model?

James: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter during youth and he was the athlete I admired.

Kelly: Identify a turning point in your career - an experience that has influenced your development and the player you have evolved into?

The defender: I would probably say going on loan. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is most challenging and this represents probably what most players making the jump find difficult.

Kelly: You're referring to Wigan, of course. What made was Wigan the ideal team for you at that period? It was distant from everything you knew in the capital - what made it successful so effectively?

James: The first thing is that I featured week in week out, which proves beneficial. I gained a lot of experiences - I moved away from my friends and family and had to mature quickly. Participating on a regular schedule helped a lot.

The interviewer: Who has had the greatest influence on your career?

The athlete: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] the veteran. He's almost old enough to be my dad and has competed at the highest level for so long. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he arrived and continues to, even now he is not here [having left Chelsea in that year].

Kelly: How specifically would he assist you?

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

Kelly: It was undoubtedly nice to see him this summer [during the tournament]?

The defender: It proved great to see him again. I'm pleased that his team performed admirably in the competition [they lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners his team]. It's consistently positive to see him.

Kelly: Were you able to go back and replay a single game in your career, what would you choose?

James: If the outcome is going to be the identical - I'd select the Champions League [final].

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