Style Obsession, Looking Up To Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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The Football Interview represents an innovative program in which leading personalities from athletics and show business join presenter Kelly Somers 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 behind the player.

The Chelsea defender started practicing with Chelsea at six years old and - after developing through the youth system 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 7-1 victory over the opposition in 2019.

Now 25, his professional achievements to date include making his international bow against Wales in the year 2020, claiming the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.

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

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to talk about his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

The athlete: I am Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect more people will recognize that location. My coffee is a flat white.

Kelly: Was it consistently a flat white?

James: Not exactly, I began with, like, vanilla lattes and similar drinks.

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

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

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this difficult to respond to because it represented a significant aspect of your childhood and development?

Reece: Not particularly, just because my memory is quite poor. My earliest memory was likely, I don't know, attending matches of my sibling play. He is 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 soccer trainer too, isn't he? Share with me a little about that.

The athlete: So we were three children during childhood. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

The presenter: Do you remember many of those training periods? Since I read that starting from the age of four, you were outside and he was doing drills with you in the yard.

James: Yes, I remember - the drills began early. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for me and my sibling [the club and national team forward his sister].

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

Reece: I don't remember much, frankly. It was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I believe I played for about a year. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

Kelly: And you weren't a backline player at first, correct? Talk to me about your role evolution and its development...

James: I started off as a forward, and then eventually transitioned to wide positions, left wing, right wing, and eventually to midfield, and then finally at defensive role, and I disliked it at the time.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

Reece: Because I always wanted to play midfield. You didn't touch the football as frequently but eventually everything fell into place and I've been a defender since.

Kelly: You mentioned you began as an attacker - who was your role model?

James: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter during youth and he was the player I admired.

Kelly: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your career - an experience that has shaped you and the professional you have become?

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

The presenter: You're talking about the club, naturally. Why was Wigan the right club for you at that period? It was miles away from all you were familiar with in the capital - what made it successful so effectively?

James: The primary factor is that I played consistently, which proves beneficial. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and relatives and was forced to grow up fast. Playing on a regular schedule helped a lot.

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

Reece: I'd identify [Brazil defender] the veteran. He is almost sufficiently experienced to be my father and has competed at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to help me from the minute he arrived and continues to, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: In what way would he assist you?

Reece: These were small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he would sometimes see things that I perceived differently and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.

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

The defender: It was wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his club did well in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to eventual winners Chelsea]. It is always good to encounter him.

The interviewer: If you could return and replay 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].

The host: Besides winning, what made it exceptional about that night