Fashion Passion, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Bond with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents an innovative program in which leading personalities from athletics and entertainment participate with host Kelly Somers for frank and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mental approach and drive, discussing defining moments, professional achievements and individual insights. This series reveals the person beyond the player.

The Chelsea defender began training with Chelsea at six years old and - having progressed through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now team leader.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, netting on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over the opposition in September 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 his club 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, the Brazilian's impact, and his relationship with multiple Formula One title winner the racing driver.

The interviewer: Initial inquiry: identity, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?

The athlete: The name is Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect many will recognize that area. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

Kelly: Has it always been a that particular coffee?

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

Kelly: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What does football mean to you?

The defender: Essentially, from childhood, it's kind of my entire focus in education. I wasn't the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

Kelly: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this difficult to answer because it was such a significant aspect of your childhood and growing up?

Reece: No, simply due to my memory is quite poor. My earliest memory was probably, unsure, going to watch my sibling play. He is two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

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

The athlete: So there was three children growing up. We were all football mad, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

The presenter: Do you remember many of those training periods? Because I learned that as young as the four years old, you were outside and he conducted drills with you in the back garden.

Reece: Yeah, I remember - the training started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for myself and my sibling [Chelsea and national team forward his sister].

Kelly: Talk to me about your initial club that you played for as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

The defender: I don't remember much, frankly. That was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I believe I played for about a year. From that point that I was scouted for the professional club.

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

Reece: I started off as a forward, and then subsequently transitioned to the wing, left side, right side, and eventually to central positions, and then eventually at defensive role, and I disliked it at the time.

The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Since I consistently desired 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 mentioned you began as an attacker - who was your idol?

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

The host: Can you think of a turning point in your professional life - a moment that has influenced your development and the player you have evolved into?

Reece: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Bridging the gap between youth and senior level is most challenging and this represents probably what most players transitioning upwards find difficult.

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 all you knew in the capital - why did it work so well?

James: The first thing is that I played consistently, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and relatives and was forced to mature quickly. Playing on a consistent basis helped a lot.

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

The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's nearly sufficiently experienced to be my father and has competed at elite standard for so long. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he arrived and still does, presently he is not here [after leaving the club in 2024].

The host: In what way would he assist you?

Reece: These were little messages away from games. On the pitch, he occasionally observe situations that I saw alternatively and attempt and paint a different picture.

Kelly: It must have been pleasant to meet him recently [during the tournament]?

Reece: It proved wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his club did well in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to eventual winners Chelsea]. It's consistently positive to encounter him.

Kelly: If you could return and experience again a single game in your professional history, what would you choose?

James: Assuming the result is remains the same - I'd select the European Cup decider.

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