Style Obsession, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents a new series in which leading personalities from athletics and show business join presenter Kelly Somers for frank and comprehensive dialogues about football.

We'll explore mental approach and drive, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and personal reflections. This series reveals the individual beyond the athlete.

Reece James began practicing with Chelsea at six years old and - after developing through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now team leader.

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

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

However, 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 talk about his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

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

The athlete: I am Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will know that location. My coffee is a flat white.

The host: Has it always been a that particular coffee?

James: Not exactly, it started with, like, flavored coffees and stuff.

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 my entire focus in education. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I just loved the sport.

Kelly: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this tough to respond to because it was such a significant aspect of your childhood and development?

James: Not particularly, simply due to my memory is so bad. My first remembrance was probably, unsure, going to watch my sibling play. He is my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was significant in your household, wasn't it, because your father was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Tell me a bit about that.

Reece: So 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.

The presenter: Can you recall many 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.

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

The interviewer: Tell me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

Reece: I don't remember much, to be honest. That was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I believe I played for about a year. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

Kelly: And you weren't a backline player at initially, were you? Talk to me about your positional journey and how that changed...

Reece: I began as a forward, and then subsequently moved to the wing, left wing, right wing, and eventually to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I hated it at the time.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Because I always wanted to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the ball as much but one day it just clicked and I've been a right-back since.

Kelly: You mentioned you began as a forward - who served as your role model?

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.

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

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

The presenter: You're talking about the club, of course. Why did Wigan become the ideal team for you at that period? The location was distant from all you knew in the capital - what made it successful so well?

Reece: The first thing is that I played week in week out, which proves beneficial. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my friends and family and was forced to grow up quickly. Participating on a regular schedule helped significantly.

The interviewer: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your career?

Reece: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He is almost old enough to be my father and has competed at elite standard for so long. He always tried to help me from the moment he arrived and still does, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in 2024].

Kelly: How specifically would he assist you?

James: These were small pieces of advice away from games. During matches, he occasionally observe situations that I perceived differently and attempt and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It must have been pleasant to see him recently [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It was wonderful to see him again. I'm pleased that his club performed admirably in the tournament [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions Chelsea]. It's always good to encounter him.

Kelly: Were you able to return and experience again a single game in your career, which would you pick?

Reece: Assuming the result is going to be the identical - I'd select the Champions League [final].

Kelly: Other than victory, what made it exceptional about the occasion