Style Obsession, Looking Up To Didier Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents a new series where leading personalities from athletics and show business join host Kelly Somers for candid and detailed discussions about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, discussing pivotal experiences, professional achievements and personal reflections. The Football Interview reveals the person beyond the athlete.

Reece James started training with the London club at the age of six and - after developing through the academy and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements to date include earning his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with multiple fitness issues impacting him over recent years.

The athlete spoke with Kelly Somers to talk about his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner the racing driver.

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

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

Kelly: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

Reece: No, it started with, such as, vanilla lattes and similar drinks.

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

The defender: Essentially, from childhood, it's kind of all I knew in education. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I simply adored the sport.

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

James: No, just because my memory is so bad. My earliest memory was likely, I don't know, going to watch my brother compete. He is my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was significant in your family, correct, because your father was deeply engaged? He is a football coach too, right? Tell me a bit about that.

Reece: Well there was three children growing up. We were all football mad, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

Kelly: Can you recall many of those sessions? Because I read that as young as the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he was doing exercises with you in the yard.

Reece: Yes, I remember - the drills began early. Fortunately, they paid off for myself and my sister [the club and England forward Lauren James].

Kelly: Talk to me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, what was it called, 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. It was from there that I was scouted for Chelsea.

The host: And you weren't a defender at initially, correct? Talk to me about your role evolution and how that changed...

James: I started off as a striker, and then subsequently moved to the wing, left side, right side, and eventually to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I hated it at the time.

Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Because I always wanted to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the football as frequently but eventually it just clicked and I've been a right-back since.

Kelly: You said you began as an attacker - who served as your role model?

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

The host: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your professional life - an experience that has influenced your development and the player you have evolved into?

Reece: I would probably say going on loan. Transitioning between youth and senior level is most challenging and this represents probably what many athletes transitioning upwards find challenging.

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

Reece: The primary factor is that I played week in week out, which proves beneficial. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and relatives and had to mature quickly. Playing on a consistent basis helped a lot.

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

The athlete: I'd identify [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's almost old enough to be my father and has competed at the highest level for so long. He consistently attempted to help me from the moment he arrived and continues to, presently he is departed [having left Chelsea in that year].

Kelly: In what way would he help you?

Reece: These were little messages off the pitch. During matches, he would sometimes see things that I perceived alternatively and try and paint a different picture.

Kelly: It was undoubtedly nice to see him recently [during the tournament]?

Reece: It was wonderful to see him again. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the competition [they lost in the penultimate round to eventual winners Chelsea]. It's always good to encounter him.

The interviewer: Were you able to return and experience again a single game in your professional history, what would you choose?

James: Assuming the result is remains the same - it would be the European Cup decider.

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