Style Obsession, Looking Up To Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

• Published
  47 minutes ago

The Football Interview represents a new series in which prominent figures from athletics and entertainment join host Kelly Somers for candid and detailed dialogues about the beautiful game.

The program examines mindset and drive, covering defining moments, professional achievements and individual insights. The Football Interview uncovers the individual beyond the athlete.

Reece James started practicing with Chelsea at six years old and - having progressed through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now team leader.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Now 25, his professional achievements so far include making his England debut against the Welsh team in 2020, winning the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.

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

James sat down with Kelly Somers to talk about his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner the racing driver.

Kelly Somers: First question: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

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

The host: Was it consistently a flat white?

Reece: Not exactly, I began with, like, flavored coffees and stuff.

The presenter: We'll begin by talking football. What significance does soccer hold to you?

The defender: Essentially, from a little kid, it was practically my entire focus in education. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I just loved playing football.

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

James: Not particularly, simply due to my memory is so bad. My earliest memory was probably, I don't know, going to watch my sibling play. He is my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.

The host: It was big in your family, wasn't it, because your dad was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, right? Share with me a bit about that.

Reece: Well there was three of us during childhood. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

Kelly: Can you recall a lot of those sessions? Because I read that starting from the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he conducted exercises with you in the back garden.

James: Yeah, I recall - the training started young. Thankfully, they paid off for myself and my sister [Chelsea and national team attacker Lauren James].

Kelly: Talk to me about your initial club that you played for as a child, what was it called, and what can you remember?

Reece: I don't remember much, to be honest. That was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I believe I was there for about twelve months. From that point that I was scouted for the professional club.

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

James: I began as a forward, and then eventually transitioned to wide positions, left side, right side, and eventually to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I disliked it at that period.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Since I consistently desired to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the football as much but eventually it just clicked and I became a right-back since.

Kelly: You said you started as a forward - who served as your role model?

James: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I grew up as a Chelsea fan growing up and he represented the athlete I looked up to.

Kelly: Can you think of a turning point in your professional life - an experience that has shaped you and the player you have evolved into?

Reece: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and senior level is most challenging and this represents probably what most players making the jump find challenging.

Kelly: You're referring to the club, of course. Why did Wigan become the ideal team for you at that period? The location was distant from everything you were familiar with in the capital - why did it work so well?

James: The first thing is that I played consistently, which proves beneficial. I gained a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and relatives and had to mature quickly. Participating on a consistent basis helped significantly.

Kelly: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your career?

The athlete: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] the veteran. He is almost sufficiently experienced to be my father and has played at the highest level for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the moment he arrived and continues to, even now he is not here [having left Chelsea in that year].

Kelly: In what way would he assist you?

James: These were little messages away from games. On the pitch, he would sometimes see things that I saw differently and try and paint a different picture.

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

The defender: It was wonderful to see him again. I'm happy that his club performed admirably in the tournament [they lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners his team]. It's consistently positive to encounter him.

Kelly: Were you able to go back and experience again one match in your career, which would you pick?

Reece: If the outcome is going to be the same - it would be the Champions League [final].

The host: Other than winning, what made it exceptional about the occasion