Style Obsession, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents an innovative program where leading personalities from athletics and show business participate with presenter Kelly Somers for candid and detailed discussions about football.

The program examines mindset and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and personal reflections. This series uncovers the individual behind the player.

The Chelsea defender started training with the London club at six years old and - after developing through the academy and into the first team - is now club captain.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, scoring on his debut in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

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

However, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries impacting him over the past four seasons.

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

The interviewer: Initial inquiry: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

The athlete: The name is Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect many will know that area. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

Kelly: Has it always been a flat white?

James: No, I began with, like, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

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

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

Kelly: Your first recollection of participating? Is this tough to respond to because it was such a significant aspect of your early years and development?

James: No, simply due to my memory is quite poor. My first remembrance was likely, unsure, going to watch my sibling play. 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 so heavily involved? He's a soccer trainer too, right? Share with me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well we were three children during childhood. We were all football mad, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

The presenter: Do you remember a lot of those training periods? Because I read that starting from the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted drills with you in the back garden.

James: Yeah, I recall - the drills started young. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for me and my sibling [Chelsea and England forward his sister].

Kelly: Talk to me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, what was it called, and what can you remember?

Reece: I don't remember much, frankly. That was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I believe I was there for about twelve months. From that point that I was scouted for Chelsea.

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

James: I began as a forward, and then subsequently transitioned to the wing, left side, right side, and later to central positions, and then eventually at defensive role, and I disliked it at that period.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

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

Kelly: You mentioned you began as a forward - who served as your idol?

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

The host: Identify a turning point in your professional life - a moment that has influenced your development and the professional you have become?

Reece: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between academy and first-team football is the hardest and this represents probably what most players transitioning upwards find challenging.

Kelly: You're talking about the club, of course. What made was Wigan the ideal team for you at the time? The location was distant from all you were familiar with in London - what made it successful so effectively?

James: The primary factor is that I played consistently, which helps. I gained valuable exposure - I moved away from my friends and relatives and was forced to mature quickly. Participating on a regular schedule assisted a lot.

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

The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's almost old enough to be my dad and has played at the highest level for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he joined and continues to, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in 2024].

Kelly: In what way would he assist you?

Reece: These were little messages away from games. During matches, he occasionally observe situations that I perceived differently and attempt and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly nice to see him this summer [during the tournament]?

The defender: It was wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his club performed admirably in the competition [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions Chelsea]. It is always good to encounter him.

The interviewer: If you could return and replay one match in your professional history, what would you choose?

Reece: Assuming the result is remains the identical - it would be the Champions League [final].

Kelly: Besides winning, what was so special about the occasion