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

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This Sports Conversation constitutes an innovative program in which leading personalities from sports and entertainment participate with host the interviewer for candid and comprehensive discussions about football.

We'll explore mindset and drive, discussing defining moments, career highlights and individual insights. This series uncovers the person behind the player.

The Chelsea defender started training with the London club at the age of six and - after developing through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in 2019.

Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights so far include earning his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, winning the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being named 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 professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: First question: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: The name is Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will recognize that area. My coffee is a flat white.

Kelly: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

Reece: Not exactly, 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 was practically all I knew in school. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

The interviewer: Your first recollection of participating? Is this tough to answer because it represented a significant aspect of your early years and development?

Reece: No, simply due to my memory is quite poor. My earliest memory was probably, I don't know, attending matches of my brother compete. He's two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was significant in your household, wasn't it, because your father was so heavily involved? He's a football coach too, right? Share with me a little about that.

Reece: So there was three children during childhood. We were all football mad, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

The presenter: Do you remember a lot 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 back garden.

James: Yeah, I remember - the training began early. Thankfully, they paid off for myself and my sister [the club and national team attacker his sister].

Kelly: Tell me about your first ever team that you represented as a child, what was it called, and what can you remember?

Reece: I don't remember much, frankly. That was the local team in Kew. I think I played for about a year. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for Chelsea.

Kelly: And you weren't a defender at initially, were you? Talk to me about your role evolution and its development...

James: I began as a striker, and then eventually moved to wide positions, left wing, right wing, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at right-back, and I disliked it at that period.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

Reece: Since I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the ball as frequently but one day it just clicked and I've been a defender since.

Kelly: You mentioned you began as an attacker - who was your idol?

Reece: The player I admired was [the legendary] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter during youth and he was the player I looked up to.

The host: Identify a turning point in your career - an experience that has influenced your development and the player you have evolved into?

The defender: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and senior level is the hardest and that is likely what most players transitioning upwards find challenging.

Kelly: You're referring to Wigan, of course. Why did Wigan become the ideal team for you at that period? The location was distant from all you knew in London - why did it work so effectively?

Reece: The first thing is that I played consistently, which proves beneficial. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and family and had to grow up quickly. Participating on a consistent basis assisted significantly.

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

Reece: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] the veteran. He's almost old enough to be my dad and has played at the highest level for many years. He always tried to assist me from the moment he arrived and still does, even now he is departed [after leaving the club in 2024].

The host: In what way would he assist you?

James: It was small pieces of advice away from games. During matches, he occasionally see things that I perceived differently and try and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly pleasant to meet him recently [during the tournament]?

Reece: It was wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his team did well in the competition [they were defeated in the semi-finals to eventual winners Chelsea]. It's always good to see him.

The interviewer: Were you able to go back and replay a single game in your professional history, what would you choose?

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

The host: Other than winning, what was so special about the occasion