Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents a new series in which leading personalities from athletics and show business join presenter Kelly Somers for candid and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, discussing pivotal experiences, professional achievements and personal reflections. This series uncovers the person behind the athlete.

Reece James started practicing with the London club at six years old and - having progressed through the youth system and into the first team - is now club captain.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, scoring on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over the opposition in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements so far include making his international bow against Wales in the year 2020, claiming the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

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

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to discuss his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: name, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?

The athlete: The name is Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will know that area. My beverage is a specific coffee type.

The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

James: No, I began with, like, vanilla lattes and stuff.

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

Reece: I mean, from a little kid, it's kind of my entire focus in school. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I just loved the sport.

Kelly: Your first recollection of participating? Is this difficult to respond to because it represented a big part of your childhood and growing up?

James: Not particularly, just because my memory is quite poor. My earliest memory was probably, I don't know, going to watch my brother compete. He's my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was significant in your household, wasn't it, because your father was deeply engaged? He is a soccer trainer too, right? Share with me a bit about that.

The athlete: So there was three children growing up. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

Kelly: Do you remember many of those training periods? Since I learned that starting from the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he conducted drills with you in the yard.

James: Yes, I remember - the drills started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for me and my sibling [Chelsea and England forward Lauren James].

The interviewer: Tell me about your first ever team that you represented as a child, what was it called, and your memories?

The defender: My recollection is limited, to be honest. That was the local team in Kew. I think 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 backline player at initially, were you? Explain about your role evolution and how that changed...

Reece: I started off as a forward, and then subsequently moved to the wing, left wing, right side, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at defensive role, and I hated it at that period.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Because I consistently desired to play midfield. There was less involvement with the ball as much but one day everything fell into place and I've been a defender since.

The interviewer: You mentioned you started as a forward - who served as 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.

Kelly: Identify a turning point in your career - a moment that has influenced your development and the professional you have evolved into?

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

Kelly: You're talking about the club, naturally. Why was Wigan the ideal team for you at the time? The location was distant from everything you were familiar with in the capital - what made it successful so well?

James: The first thing is that I featured consistently, which helps. I acquired valuable exposure - I relocated from my friends and relatives and was forced to mature quickly. Participating on a regular schedule helped significantly.

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

Reece: I would say [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's nearly old enough to be my dad and has competed at the highest level for so long. He always tried to assist me from the moment he arrived and still does, even now he is not here [after leaving the club in 2024].

The host: How specifically would he help you?

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

Kelly: It was undoubtedly pleasant to meet him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It was great to see him again. I'm pleased that his club did well in the competition [they lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners Chelsea]. It is always good to encounter him.

Kelly: Were you able to return and replay a single game in your professional history, what would you choose?

James: Assuming the result is remains the identical - I'd select the European Cup decider.

The host: Besides winning, what was so special about that night