Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Bond with Hamilton
- Published
This Sports Conversation constitutes an innovative program where prominent figures from sports and show business participate with presenter Kelly Somers for frank and detailed discussions about the beautiful game.
The program examines mental approach and motivation, covering defining moments, career highlights and personal reflections. The Football Interview reveals the person beyond the player.
The Chelsea defender began practicing with Chelsea at six years old and - having progressed through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now team leader.
James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, netting on his debut in a comprehensive win over the opposition in 2019.
Now 25, his professional achievements to date include making his international bow against Wales in 2020, winning the Champions League with his club in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.
Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries impacting him over recent years.
James sat down with Kelly Somers to discuss his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.
The defender discusses Thiago Silva's impact on his professional journey
The interviewer: Initial inquiry: identity, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?
Reece James: The name is Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect many will recognize that area. My beverage is a specific coffee type.
Kelly: Has it always been a that particular coffee?
James: Not exactly, I began with, such as, vanilla lattes and stuff.
Kelly: We'll begin by talking football. What does football mean to you?
Reece: Essentially, from childhood, it was practically all I knew in school. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I simply adored playing football.
Kelly: Your first recollection of participating? Is this difficult to respond to because it represented a significant aspect of your early years and growing up?
James: Not particularly, just because my memory is so bad. My first remembrance was likely, I don't know, attending matches of my brother play. He's my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.
Kelly: It was big in your household, wasn't it, because your dad was deeply engaged? He is a football coach too, right? Share with me a little about that.
The athlete: Well there was three children during childhood. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.
The presenter: Can you recall many of those sessions? Because I learned that starting from the age of four, you were outside and he conducted drills with you in the yard.
Reece: Yeah, I remember - the training began early. Fortunately, they paid off for myself and my sibling [the club and national team forward his sister].
The interviewer: Tell me about your initial club that you played for as a youngster, its name, and what can you remember?
Reece: I don't remember much, to be honest. That was the local team in Kew. I believe I was there for about a year. From that point that I was scouted for Chelsea.
Kelly: And you weren't a backline player at initially, correct? Explain about your positional journey and how that changed...
Reece: I began as a striker, and then subsequently transitioned to wide positions, left side, right side, and eventually to central positions, and then eventually at right-back, and I hated it at that period.
Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?
Reece: Because I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the football as much but eventually everything fell into place and I've been a right-back since.
The defender claimed the Champions League in 2021 when his team defeated Man City by one goal in the championship match in Porto
The interviewer: You mentioned you began as a forward - who served as your role model?
Reece: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter growing up and he represented the athlete I admired.
Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your professional life - an experience that has influenced your development and the professional you have evolved into?
The defender: I'd likely identify going on loan. Transitioning between academy and senior level is most challenging and that is likely what most players making the jump find challenging.
Kelly: You're referring to Wigan, naturally. What made did Wigan become the ideal team for you at that period? The location was distant from everything you knew in London - what made it successful so effectively?
Reece: The primary factor is that I played consistently, which helps. I acquired valuable exposure - I moved away from my companions and relatives and had to grow up quickly. Participating on a consistent basis assisted a lot.
Kelly: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your career?
The athlete: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] the veteran. He's nearly sufficiently experienced to be my father and has played at the highest level for so long. He consistently attempted to assist me from the moment he joined and continues to, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].
Kelly: How specifically would he help you?
Reece: These were small pieces of advice away from games. During matches, he occasionally observe situations that I saw alternatively and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.
Kelly: It must have been nice to see him this summer [during the tournament]?
Reece: It was wonderful to see him again. I'm pleased that his team performed admirably in the tournament [they lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners his team]. It is consistently positive to encounter him.
The interviewer: Were you able to return and experience again a single game in your professional history, what would you choose?
Reece: Assuming the result is remains the same - I'd select the European Cup decider.
The host: Other than winning, what made it exceptional about that night
