Style Obsession, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Bond with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents a new series where leading personalities from athletics and show business participate with host Kelly Somers for frank and detailed discussions about football.

We'll explore mindset and drive, discussing pivotal experiences, professional achievements and personal reflections. The Football Interview reveals the individual beyond the player.

Reece James began practicing 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.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, netting on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in September 2019.

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

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

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to discuss his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his relationship 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 was raised in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure many will recognize that location. My beverage is a specific coffee type.

Kelly: Was it consistently a flat white?

James: Not exactly, it started with, such as, vanilla lattes and similar drinks.

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

Reece: Essentially, from childhood, it was practically all I knew in school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I just loved the sport.

The interviewer: Your first recollection of participating? Is this difficult to respond to because it represented a significant aspect of your childhood and development?

James: Not particularly, simply due to my recollection is quite poor. My first remembrance was likely, unsure, going to watch my sibling compete. He's two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

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

The athlete: Well there was three of us during childhood. We were all football mad, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

The presenter: Do you remember a lot of those sessions? Since I learned that as young as the four years old, you were outside and he was doing drills with you in the yard.

Reece: Yes, I remember - the training started young. Fortunately, they paid off for me and my sibling [Chelsea and England attacker his sister].

Kelly: Tell me about your initial club that you played for as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. 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 the professional club.

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

James: I started off as a forward, and then subsequently transitioned to the wing, left side, right side, and eventually to central positions, and then eventually at right-back, and I disliked it at the time.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Since I always wanted to play midfield. There was less involvement with the ball as frequently but eventually it just clicked and I've been a defender since.

The interviewer: You mentioned you started as a forward - who served as your role model?

James: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan during youth and he was the player I admired.

The host: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your professional life - an experience that has shaped you and the professional you have become?

Reece: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Bridging the gap between youth and first-team football is the hardest and that is likely what most players making the jump find difficult.

Kelly: You're talking about the club, naturally. What made did Wigan become the ideal team for you at that period? It was distant from all you knew in London - why did it work so effectively?

James: The first thing is that I featured week in week out, which proves beneficial. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and family and was forced to grow up fast. Playing on a consistent basis assisted a lot.

Kelly: Who has had the biggest impact on your professional journey?

The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He is nearly sufficiently experienced to be my father and has competed at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he joined and continues to, even now he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].

Kelly: In what way would he help you?

Reece: These were small pieces of advice off the pitch. On the pitch, he would sometimes see things that I saw alternatively and try and offer alternative perspectives.

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

The defender: It proved great to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his team performed admirably in the tournament [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions Chelsea]. It's always good to see him.

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

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

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