Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Didier Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

• Released
  47 minutes ago

The Football Interview represents an innovative program where leading personalities from sports and entertainment join host the interviewer for frank and detailed discussions about the beautiful game.

The program examines mental approach and motivation, covering defining moments, professional achievements and personal reflections. The Football Interview reveals the person behind the player.

Reece James began practicing with the London club at the age of six and - after developing through the academy and into the first team - is now team leader.

The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, scoring on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights to date include earning his international bow against the Welsh team in the year 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries impacting him over recent years.

James sat down with Kelly Somers to talk about his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I expect many will recognize that area. My beverage is a flat white.

Kelly: Has it always been a flat white?

Reece: Not exactly, I began with, such as, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

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

Reece: I mean, from childhood, it was practically all I knew in school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

Kelly: What's your earliest memory of playing? Is this tough to answer because it represented a big part of your early years and development?

Reece: Not particularly, just because my recollection is quite poor. My first remembrance was probably, I don't know, attending matches of my sibling play. He is 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, right? Tell me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well we were three of us during childhood. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

The presenter: Can you recall a lot of those training periods? Since I learned that as young as the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he was doing exercises with you in the back garden.

Reece: Yeah, I recall - the drills started young. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for myself and my sister [Chelsea and national team forward his sister].

Kelly: Tell me about your first ever team that you played for 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 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 first, correct? Talk to me about your role evolution and its development...

Reece: I began as a forward, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left side, right wing, and later to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I hated it at that period.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

Reece: Since I always wanted to play midfield. You didn't touch the football as much but eventually it just clicked and I became a right-back since.

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

James: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter during youth and he represented the player I admired.

Kelly: Can you think of a turning point in your career - an experience that has influenced your development and the professional you have evolved into?

The defender: I'd likely identify going on loan. Bridging the gap between academy and senior level is the hardest and that is likely what many athletes making the jump find challenging.

The presenter: You're talking about Wigan, of course. What made was Wigan the right club for you at the time? The location was miles away from everything you were familiar with in the capital - why did it work so effectively?

Reece: The primary factor is that I played consistently, which proves beneficial. I gained a lot of experiences - I moved away from my friends and relatives and was forced to grow up quickly. Playing on a regular schedule helped a lot.

The interviewer: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your professional journey?

The athlete: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He is almost sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to help me from the minute he arrived and continues to, even now he is not here [after leaving the club in 2024].

Kelly: In what way would he help you?

Reece: These were little messages off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally see things that I saw alternatively and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.

The presenter: It must have been nice to meet him recently [during the tournament]?

Reece: It was great to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the competition [they lost in the penultimate round to the champions Chelsea]. It's always good to see him.

Kelly: Were you able to go back and replay a single game in your career, which would you pick?

Reece: Assuming the result is remains the same - I'd select the Champions League [final].

Kelly: Other than victory, what was so special about that night