Style Obsession, Idolizing Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes a new series in which prominent figures from sports and entertainment participate with presenter the interviewer for candid and detailed dialogues about football.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, covering defining moments, career highlights and personal reflections. This series reveals the person behind the player.

The Chelsea defender started practicing with Chelsea at six years old and - after developing through the academy and into the first team - is now team leader.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, netting on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over the opposition in 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements to date include making his international bow against Wales in 2020, claiming the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues affecting him over recent years.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to discuss his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

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

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

Kelly: Has it always been a flat white?

Reece: Not exactly, I began with, such as, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

Kelly: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold to you?

The defender: Essentially, from childhood, it was practically my entire focus in school. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I just loved the sport.

Kelly: What's your earliest memory of playing? Is this tough to answer because it represented a big part of your childhood and growing up?

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

The host: It was big in your family, correct, because your father was so heavily involved? He's a soccer trainer too, right? Share with me a little about that.

The athlete: So there was three children during childhood. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

Kelly: Can you recall many of those sessions? Since I learned that starting from the four years old, you were outside and he conducted drills with you in the yard.

Reece: Yeah, I remember - the training started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for me and my sister [Chelsea and England attacker Lauren James].

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

Reece: I don't remember much, to be honest. It 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: And you weren't a defender at first, were you? Explain about your role evolution and its development...

James: I started off as a striker, and then eventually transitioned to the wing, left side, right side, and later to central positions, and then eventually at defensive role, and I disliked it at that period.

The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Because I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the ball as frequently but eventually everything fell into place and I became a defender since.

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

Reece: The player I admired was [the legendary] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter during youth and he was the athlete I looked up to.

The host: Identify a pivotal moment in your professional life - a moment that has shaped you and the player you have evolved into?

The defender: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between academy and first-team football is most challenging and that is likely what many athletes transitioning upwards find difficult.

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

Reece: The primary factor is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I acquired valuable exposure - I moved away from my companions and family and had to grow up quickly. Playing on a regular schedule helped a lot.

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

Reece: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He's nearly old enough to be my dad and has played at the highest level for many years. He always tried to assist me from the moment he arrived and continues to, presently he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].

Kelly: In what way would he assist you?

James: These were little messages off the pitch. On the pitch, he would sometimes see things that I perceived alternatively and try and offer alternative perspectives.

The presenter: It must have been pleasant to meet him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?

The defender: It was great to see him again. I'm happy that his club did well in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to eventual winners his team]. It's always good to encounter him.

The interviewer: Were you able to go back and replay one match in your career, what would you choose?

Reece: Assuming the result is going to be the same - I'd select the European Cup decider.

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