Fashion Passion, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Bond with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes an innovative program in which leading personalities from athletics and entertainment join host the interviewer for candid and detailed discussions about football.

We'll explore mindset and motivation, discussing defining moments, professional achievements and personal reflections. The Football Interview reveals the person behind the athlete.

The Chelsea defender started practicing with Chelsea at six years old and - having progressed through the youth system and into the first team - is now team leader.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, netting on his debut in a comprehensive win over the opposition in 2019.

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

Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues affecting him over the past four seasons.

The athlete spoke with Kelly Somers to talk about his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: Initial inquiry: identity, your origins, and what's your coffee order?

The athlete: I am Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I expect many will know that area. My beverage is a flat white.

Kelly: Has it always been a flat white?

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

Kelly: Let's start by talking football. What significance does soccer hold to you?

The defender: Essentially, from childhood, it's kind of my entire focus in education. I wasn't the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

Kelly: Your first recollection of participating? Is this difficult to answer because it represented a big part of your early years and development?

Reece: No, simply due to my memory is so bad. My first remembrance was likely, unsure, going to watch my sibling play. He is two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was significant in your household, wasn't it, because your father was deeply engaged? He is a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Tell me a little about that.

Reece: So there was three of us during childhood. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

The presenter: Can you recall a lot of those training periods? Since I learned that as young as the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he was doing exercises with you in the back garden.

James: Yeah, I recall - the training began early. Fortunately, they paid off for me and my sibling [Chelsea and England forward Lauren James].

Kelly: Tell me about your first ever team that you played for as a child, its name, and what can you remember?

Reece: I don't remember much, frankly. That was the local team in Kew. I believe I played for about twelve months. It was from there that talent spotters noticed me for Chelsea.

The host: And you weren't a defender at first, were you? Talk to me 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?

The athlete: Since I always wanted to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the football as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I've been a defender since.

Kelly: You said you began as an attacker - who was your idol?

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

Kelly: Can you think of a turning point in your career - an experience that has influenced your development and the professional you have become?

Reece: I'd likely identify going on loan. Bridging the gap between academy and senior level is the hardest and this represents probably what most players making the jump find challenging.

The presenter: You're referring to the club, naturally. Why was Wigan the right club for you at that period? The location was miles away from all you knew in the capital - what made it successful so well?

Reece: The primary factor is that I featured consistently, which helps. I gained a lot of experiences - I relocated from my friends and relatives and was forced to grow up fast. Playing on a consistent basis assisted a lot.

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

Reece: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] the veteran. He is nearly sufficiently experienced to be my father and has played at elite standard for so long. He always tried to assist me from the minute he arrived and continues to, even now he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: How specifically would he help you?

Reece: It was little messages away from games. On the pitch, he occasionally see things that I perceived differently and try and offer alternative perspectives.

Kelly: It must have been pleasant to see him this summer [during the tournament]?

The defender: It was wonderful to see him again. I'm pleased that his club did well in the tournament [they lost in the penultimate round to eventual winners his team]. It is consistently positive to see him.

The interviewer: Were you able to return and replay one match in your professional history, what would you choose?

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

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