Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Didier Drogba & Bond with Lewis Hamilton
- Published
This Sports Conversation constitutes a new series where prominent figures from sports and show business join host the interviewer for frank and detailed dialogues about the beautiful game.
We'll explore mindset and drive, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and personal reflections. This series reveals the person beyond the player.
The Chelsea defender began practicing with the London club at the age of six and - having progressed through the academy and into the senior squad - is now team leader.
James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, scoring on his debut in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in September 2019.
Now 25, James' career highlights to date include making his England debut against Wales in 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.
Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues impacting him over recent years.
James sat down with the interviewer to discuss his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner the racing driver.
The defender discusses the veteran's influence on his career
Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: name, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?
The athlete: The name is Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will recognize that location. My coffee is a specific coffee type.
The host: Was it consistently a flat white?
Reece: No, I began with, like, flavored coffees and similar drinks.
Kelly: We'll begin by talking football. What significance does soccer hold to you?
Reece: Essentially, from childhood, it's kind of my entire focus in education. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I simply adored the sport.
The interviewer: Your first recollection of playing? Is this tough to answer because it was such a significant aspect of your early years and development?
Reece: No, just because my memory is so bad. My earliest memory was probably, I don't know, going to watch my brother compete. He is my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.
The host: It was significant in your family, correct, because your father was so heavily involved? He is a football coach too, isn't he? Share with me a bit about that.
The athlete: So we were three children growing up. It was 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 many of those training periods? Since I read that starting from the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he conducted exercises with you in the yard.
James: Yeah, I recall - the training started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for me and my sister [the club and England attacker Lauren James].
Kelly: Tell me about your initial club that you represented as a child, its name, and what can you remember?
Reece: I don't remember much, frankly. That was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I think I was there for about twelve months. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.
The host: You didn't start as a backline player at initially, correct? 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 wing, right wing, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at defensive role, and I hated it at that period.
The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?
Reece: Since I consistently desired to play midfield. There was less involvement with the ball as much but eventually it just clicked and I've been a defender since.
The defender claimed the prestigious trophy in 2021 when his team defeated Man City 1-0 in the final in the Portuguese city
Kelly: You said you began as an attacker - who served as your idol?
James: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter during youth and he was the athlete I looked up to.
Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your career - an experience that has influenced your development and the player you have evolved into?
Reece: I would probably say the loan spell. Bridging the gap between youth and senior level is the hardest and this represents likely what many athletes transitioning upwards find difficult.
Kelly: You're referring to Wigan, of course. Why did Wigan become the ideal team for you at that period? The location was distant from everything you were familiar with in the capital - what made it successful so effectively?
Reece: The primary factor is that I played week in week out, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and family and had to grow up quickly. Participating on a regular schedule helped significantly.
The interviewer: Who has had the biggest impact on your career?
Reece: I would say [Brazil defender] the veteran. He is almost old enough to be my father and has played at elite standard for many years. He always tried to assist me from the minute he joined and continues to, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in 2024].
Kelly: How specifically would he help you?
James: These were small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he would sometimes see things that I perceived alternatively and try and offer alternative perspectives.
The presenter: It was undoubtedly nice to meet him recently [during the tournament]?
The defender: It was wonderful to see him again. I'm pleased that his club performed admirably in the tournament [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions Chelsea]. It is always good to encounter him.
Kelly: If you could go back and replay one match in your career, what would you choose?
James: Assuming the result is remains the identical - it would be the European Cup decider.
The host: Besides victory, what made it exceptional about that night