Style Obsession, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

• Published
  47 minutes ago

This Sports Conversation represents a new series in which prominent figures from sports and entertainment participate with host the interviewer for candid and comprehensive dialogues about football.

The program examines mindset and drive, discussing defining moments, professional achievements and individual insights. The Football Interview uncovers the individual beyond the athlete.

The Chelsea defender began training with the London club at the age of six and - having progressed through the youth system and into the first team - is now team leader.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, netting on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements so far include earning his England debut against Wales in the year 2020, claiming the Champions League with his club in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

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

James sat down with Kelly Somers to discuss his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner the racing driver.

Kelly Somers: First question: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect many will know that location. My coffee is a flat white.

The host: Has it always been a flat white?

Reece: No, I began with, such as, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

Kelly: Let's start by talking football. What does football mean to you?

Reece: I mean, from a little kid, it's kind of all I knew in school. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I simply adored the sport.

Kelly: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this difficult to respond to because it was such a big part of your early years and growing up?

James: Not particularly, just because my memory is quite poor. My first remembrance was likely, unsure, going to watch my brother compete. He's two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

The host: It was significant in your family, wasn't it, because your dad was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Share with me a little about that.

The athlete: So we were three of us growing up. We were all football mad, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

The presenter: Do you remember a lot of those training periods? Because I learned that as young as the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he was doing exercises with you in the yard.

James: Yes, I recall - the training started young. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for myself and my sibling [the club and national team attacker his sister].

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

The defender: I don't remember much, frankly. It was the local team in Kew. I believe I played for about twelve months. It was from there that I was scouted for the professional club.

The host: And you weren't a defender at initially, correct? Talk to me about your positional journey and how that changed...

Reece: I started off as a striker, and then eventually moved to wide positions, left side, right wing, and later to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I disliked it at that period.

The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?

The athlete: Since I consistently desired to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the ball as much but one day it just clicked and I've been a defender since.

The interviewer: You mentioned you started as an attacker - who was your role model?

Reece: The player I admired was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a supporter during youth and he represented the athlete I admired.

The host: Identify a pivotal moment in your professional life - an experience that has influenced your development and the player you have become?

Reece: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Bridging the gap between youth and first-team football is most challenging and this represents probably what many athletes making the jump find difficult.

Kelly: You're referring to Wigan, of course. What made did Wigan become the ideal team for you at the time? The location was miles away from everything you were familiar with in the capital - why did it work so well?

Reece: The primary factor is that I featured consistently, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and relatives and was forced to grow up fast. Participating on a regular schedule helped significantly.

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

The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's almost sufficiently experienced to be my father and has played at the highest level for so long. He always tried to assist me from the minute he joined and continues to, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: In what way would he help you?

Reece: These were little messages away from games. During matches, he would sometimes observe situations that I perceived alternatively and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.

The presenter: It must have been nice to see him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It proved wonderful to see him again. I'm pleased that his club performed admirably in the tournament [they lost in the semi-finals to the champions his team]. It's always good to encounter him.

Kelly: If you could return and replay a single game in your professional history, which would you pick?

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

Kelly: Besides winning, what made it exceptional about that night