Style Obsession, Looking Up To Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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  47 minutes ago

The Football Interview represents an innovative program in which leading personalities from sports and entertainment join host the interviewer for frank and comprehensive discussions about football.

We'll explore mental approach and drive, covering defining moments, professional achievements and individual insights. This series reveals the individual behind the athlete.

Reece James started 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 the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements to date include earning his international bow against Wales in 2020, winning the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues affecting him over the past four seasons.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to discuss his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

Kelly Somers: First question: identity, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: The name is Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I expect more people will know that area. My beverage is a flat white.

Kelly: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

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

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

The defender: I mean, from a little kid, it's kind of all I knew in school. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I simply adored playing football.

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this tough to answer because it was such a big part of your early years and development?

Reece: No, just because my memory is so bad. My earliest memory was probably, unsure, attending matches of my sibling play. He is two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was big in your household, wasn't it, because your father was deeply engaged? He's a soccer trainer too, right? Tell me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well we were three children growing up. We were all football mad, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

Kelly: Can you recall a lot of those sessions? Since I learned that starting from the age of four, you were outside and he was doing drills with you in the yard.

Reece: Yeah, I recall - the drills started young. Thankfully, they paid off for me and my sister [the club and national team attacker Lauren James].

The interviewer: Talk to me about your initial club that you represented as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

The defender: I don't remember much, to be honest. That was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I think I was there for about a year. From that point 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 its development...

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

The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Because I always wanted to play midfield. You didn't touch the ball as much but eventually it just clicked and I became a defender since.

Kelly: You mentioned you started as a forward - who was your idol?

James: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I grew up as a Chelsea fan during youth and he represented the athlete I admired.

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

Reece: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is most challenging and that is likely what most players transitioning upwards find challenging.

The presenter: You're referring to Wigan, of course. What made was Wigan the right club for you at the time? The location was miles away from all you knew in the capital - what made it successful so well?

Reece: The first thing is that I played consistently, which proves beneficial. I gained valuable exposure - I moved away from my companions and relatives and was forced to mature fast. Playing on a consistent basis assisted significantly.

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

Reece: I would say [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's almost old enough to be my dad and has played at the highest level for so long. He always tried to help me from the moment he arrived and still does, presently he is not here [having left Chelsea in that year].

The host: How specifically would he help you?

Reece: These were little messages off the pitch. On the pitch, he occasionally see things that I perceived differently and try and paint a different picture.

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

The defender: It proved wonderful to see him again. I'm happy that his club performed admirably in the tournament [they lost in the penultimate round to eventual winners his team]. It's always good to encounter him.

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

James: If the outcome is remains the same - it would be the European Cup decider.

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