Style Obsession, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Bond with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes an innovative program in which leading personalities from sports and entertainment join presenter the interviewer for frank and comprehensive discussions about football.

We'll explore mental approach and drive, discussing pivotal experiences, career highlights and individual insights. The Football Interview reveals the individual behind the player.

Reece James began practicing with the London club at the age of six and - having progressed through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, scoring on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in 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.

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

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: identity, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?

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

Kelly: Was it consistently a flat white?

Reece: No, it started with, such as, flavored coffees and stuff.

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

The defender: I mean, from a little kid, it was practically all I knew in education. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I simply adored playing football.

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

Reece: 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 so heavily involved? He is a soccer trainer too, right? Tell me a bit about that.

Reece: Well we were three children growing up. It was all football mad, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

The presenter: Do you remember many of those sessions? Since I learned that starting from the age of four, you were outside and he conducted exercises with you in the back garden.

Reece: Yes, I recall - the drills started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for me and my sibling [the club and national team forward his sister].

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

Reece: I don't remember much, to be honest. That was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I believe I was there for about twelve months. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

Kelly: You didn't start as a backline player at first, were you? Talk to me about your positional journey and how that changed...

Reece: I began as a forward, and then eventually transitioned to wide positions, left side, right side, and eventually to central positions, and then eventually at right-back, and I disliked it at the time.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Since I consistently desired to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the ball as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I've been a right-back since.

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

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

Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your professional life - an experience that has shaped you and the player you have become?

Reece: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and senior level is most challenging and this represents likely what many athletes making the jump find difficult.

The presenter: You're talking about the club, naturally. What made was Wigan the ideal team for you at the time? It was miles away from everything you knew in the capital - what made it successful so well?

James: The primary factor is that I played week in week out, which helps. I gained valuable exposure - I moved away from my friends and family and was forced to grow up fast. Playing on a consistent basis helped significantly.

The interviewer: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your professional journey?

The athlete: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] the veteran. He's nearly sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has played at elite standard for so long. He always tried to assist me from the moment he arrived and still does, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in that year].

The host: How specifically would he help you?

James: These were little messages off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally see things that I saw alternatively and try and offer alternative perspectives.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly nice to meet him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It was great to see him again. I'm happy that his team did well in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to eventual winners his team]. It's consistently positive to see him.

The interviewer: Were you able to return and experience again a single game in your professional history, what would you choose?

Reece: If the outcome is remains the same - I'd select the European Cup decider.

The host: Besides victory, what was so special about that night