Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Drogba & Bond with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes an innovative program in which prominent figures from sports and show business join presenter Kelly Somers for candid and comprehensive dialogues about football.

The program examines mental approach and motivation, discussing defining moments, career highlights and personal reflections. This series reveals the individual behind the athlete.

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

The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, netting on his debut in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Now 25, his professional achievements so far include earning his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with multiple fitness issues affecting him over the past four seasons.

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

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

Reece James: I am Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect more people will know that area. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

The host: Has it always been a that particular coffee?

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

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

Reece: I mean, from a little kid, 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 playing? Is this tough to respond to because it represented a big part of your early years and growing up?

James: No, simply due to my memory is quite poor. My first remembrance 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 significant in your household, correct, because your father was deeply engaged? He is a soccer trainer too, right? Tell me a bit about that.

Reece: So we were three of us during childhood. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

The presenter: Can you recall many of those training periods? Since I read that as young as the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted exercises with you in the yard.

Reece: Yes, I recall - the drills began early. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for me and my sibling [Chelsea and England forward his sister].

Kelly: Tell me about your initial club that you played for as a child, what was it called, and your memories?

The defender: My recollection is limited, to be honest. That was the local team in Kew. I believe I was there for about twelve months. From that point that I was scouted for Chelsea.

Kelly: You didn't start as a backline player at initially, were you? Talk to me about your role evolution and its development...

James: I began as a forward, and then subsequently moved to the wing, left side, right wing, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at right-back, and I hated it at that period.

Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Since I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the ball as much but one day it just clicked and I became a defender since.

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

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

The host: Identify a pivotal moment in your career - a moment that has shaped you and the player you have become?

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

Kelly: You're referring to Wigan, naturally. Why did Wigan become the ideal team for you at the time? The location was distant from everything you were familiar with in London - why did it work so effectively?

James: The first thing is that I featured week in week out, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my friends and family and had to grow up fast. Playing on a consistent basis helped a lot.

The interviewer: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your professional journey?

The athlete: I'd identify [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He is nearly old enough to be my father and has played at elite standard for so long. He consistently attempted to help me from the moment he arrived and still does, presently he is departed [having left Chelsea in that year].

Kelly: How specifically would he help you?

Reece: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally observe situations that I perceived alternatively and try and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly nice to meet him recently [during the tournament]?

Reece: It was wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his team performed admirably in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions his team]. It is always good to encounter him.

Kelly: If you could return and experience again a single game in your professional history, what would you choose?

James: Assuming the result is going to be the same - it would be the Champions League [final].

Kelly: Besides victory, what was so special about the occasion