Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes a new series in which prominent figures from sports and entertainment participate with host Kelly Somers for frank and detailed discussions about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, discussing pivotal experiences, career highlights and individual insights. This series uncovers the individual behind the athlete.

The Chelsea defender began training with Chelsea at six years old and - after developing through the academy and into the first team - is now team leader.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, scoring on his debut in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights to date include making his England debut against Wales in the year 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries affecting him over the past four seasons.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: First question: name, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will recognize that location. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

The host: Has it always been a flat white?

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

The presenter: We'll begin by discussing soccer. 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 the most academic student, and I simply adored the sport.

Kelly: Your first recollection of playing? Is this tough to answer because it represented a big part of your childhood and growing up?

James: No, simply due to my memory is quite poor. My first remembrance 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 so heavily involved? He's a soccer trainer too, right? Tell me a bit about that.

Reece: Well we were three children growing up. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

Kelly: Do you remember many of those training periods? Since I learned that starting from the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he was doing drills with you in the yard.

James: Yes, I remember - the drills began early. Fortunately, they paid off for myself and my sibling [the club and national team attacker Lauren James].

The interviewer: Tell me about your first ever team that you represented as a child, its name, and what can you remember?

The defender: I don't remember much, frankly. That was the local team in the area. I think I played for about twelve months. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for Chelsea.

The host: And you weren't a defender at initially, correct? Talk to me about your positional journey and its development...

James: I started off as a striker, and then subsequently transitioned to wide positions, left side, right side, and eventually to central positions, and then finally at right-back, and I hated it at the time.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Because I consistently desired to play midfield. There was less involvement with the football as much but one day it just clicked and I became a defender since.

The interviewer: You said you began as an attacker - who was your idol?

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

Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your professional life - a moment that has influenced your development and the professional you have become?

The defender: I'd likely identify going on loan. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is the hardest and this represents likely what many athletes making the jump find difficult.

Kelly: You're referring to Wigan, naturally. What made was Wigan the ideal team for you at that period? The location was distant from all you knew in London - what made it successful so effectively?

Reece: The first thing is that I featured week in week out, which helps. I gained a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and relatives and had to mature quickly. Playing on a consistent basis assisted a lot.

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

The athlete: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He's nearly sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for so long. He consistently attempted to assist me from the moment he arrived and continues to, presently he is not here [having left Chelsea in 2024].

Kelly: How specifically would he help you?

James: It was little messages off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally observe situations that I saw alternatively and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.

Kelly: It must have been pleasant to meet him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It was great to see him again. I'm happy that his club performed admirably in the competition [they lost in the penultimate round to the champions his team]. It's consistently positive to see him.

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

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

Kelly: Besides winning, what made it exceptional about the occasion