Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Didier Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents an innovative program where prominent figures from athletics and show business participate with presenter the interviewer for frank and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

The program examines mental approach and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, professional achievements and individual insights. The Football Interview uncovers the individual beyond the athlete.

Reece James started training with the London club at six years old and - having progressed through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

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

Now 25, his professional achievements so far include making his international bow against Wales in the year 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.

However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues affecting him over recent years.

James sat down with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: First question: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

The athlete: I am Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect many will recognize that area. My coffee is a flat white.

Kelly: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

Reece: No, I began with, such as, vanilla lattes and stuff.

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 school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

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

Reece: No, just because my recollection is so bad. My earliest memory was likely, I don't know, attending matches of my brother play. He is my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.

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

Reece: So there was three of us during childhood. We were all football mad, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

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

James: Yes, I remember - the training started young. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for myself and my sister [the club and England forward his sister].

Kelly: Talk to me about your first ever team that you played for as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

Reece: I don't remember much, frankly. That was the local team in Kew. I think I was there for about twelve months. It was from there that I was scouted for Chelsea.

The host: And you weren't a backline player at initially, correct? Explain about your role evolution and how that changed...

Reece: I began as a forward, and then eventually transitioned to wide positions, left side, right wing, and later to midfield, and then eventually at defensive role, and I hated it at the time.

Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Because I consistently desired to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the football as frequently but eventually it just clicked and I've been a defender since.

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

Reece: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he was the player I looked up to.

The host: Can you think of a turning point in your professional life - a moment that has shaped you and the player you have become?

Reece: I would probably say going on loan. Transitioning between academy and senior level is the hardest and this represents probably what many athletes transitioning upwards find difficult.

The presenter: You're referring to the club, naturally. Why did Wigan become the right club for you at the time? It was distant from everything you were familiar with in the capital - what made it successful so effectively?

Reece: The first thing is that I played week in week out, which proves beneficial. I acquired valuable exposure - I moved away from my companions and relatives and had to mature fast. Playing on a consistent basis assisted significantly.

Kelly: Who has had the greatest influence on your career?

Reece: I'd identify [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's nearly sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for many years. He always tried to help me from the minute he joined and continues to, even now he is departed [after leaving the club in 2024].

Kelly: In what way would he help you?

Reece: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally see things that I saw alternatively and try and paint a different picture.

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

Reece: It proved great to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his club did well in the competition [they were defeated in the semi-finals to eventual winners his team]. It's always good to encounter him.

Kelly: Were you able to return and replay one match in your career, which would you pick?

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

Kelly: Other than victory, what was so special about that night