Style Obsession, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Bond with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes a new series where leading personalities from sports and show business join host the interviewer for candid and comprehensive discussions about football.

The program examines mindset and motivation, discussing defining moments, career highlights and individual insights. This series reveals the person behind the athlete.

The Chelsea defender started training 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 first appearance in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights to date include earning his international bow against Wales in 2020, claiming the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries affecting him over recent years.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: name, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?

The athlete: The name is Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure many will recognize that area. My coffee is a flat white.

Kelly: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

Reece: Not exactly, it started 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 a little kid, it was practically all I knew in education. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

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

Reece: Not particularly, simply due to my memory is quite poor. My earliest memory was probably, I don't know, attending matches of my sibling compete. He's two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was significant in your household, correct, because your dad was so heavily involved? He is a football coach too, isn't he? Share with me a little about that.

Reece: Well we were three children during childhood. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

Kelly: Do you remember many of those training periods? Since I read that as young as the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he was doing drills with you in the back garden.

Reece: Yes, I recall - the training started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for me and my sibling [Chelsea and England forward his sister].

Kelly: Tell me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

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

The host: You didn't start as a backline player at first, correct? Talk to me about your role evolution and its development...

James: I began as a striker, and then subsequently moved to the wing, left wing, right side, and eventually to central positions, and then eventually at right-back, and I disliked it at the time.

Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Since I always wanted to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the ball as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I became a defender since.

Kelly: You mentioned you started as an attacker - who served as your idol?

James: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan during youth and he represented the athlete I admired.

Kelly: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your career - an experience that has influenced your development and the professional you have evolved into?

Reece: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is the hardest and that is probably what many athletes transitioning upwards find challenging.

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

Reece: The first thing is that I played consistently, which helps. I gained a lot of experiences - I moved away from my friends and relatives and was forced to grow up fast. Playing on a consistent basis helped significantly.

Kelly: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your career?

The athlete: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] the veteran. He is nearly old enough to be my father and has competed at elite standard for many years. He always tried to assist me from the moment he arrived and still does, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: In what way would he help you?

Reece: It was small pieces of advice away from games. During matches, he occasionally observe situations that I perceived alternatively and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.

Kelly: It must have been pleasant to meet him recently [during the tournament]?

Reece: It proved great to see him again. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the competition [they were defeated in the semi-finals to eventual winners Chelsea]. It is consistently positive to encounter him.

The interviewer: If you could return and replay a single game in your career, what would you choose?

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

Kelly: Besides winning, what was so special about that night