Style Obsession, Looking Up To Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton
- Published
The Football Interview represents an innovative program where leading personalities from sports and show business join host the interviewer for frank and detailed dialogues about the beautiful game.
The program examines mindset and motivation, covering defining moments, professional achievements and personal reflections. This series uncovers the individual beyond 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.
The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, scoring on his debut in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in September 2019.
Now 25, his professional achievements so far include making his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, claiming the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.
However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues impacting him over recent years.
The athlete spoke with Kelly Somers to discuss his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.
'He's nearly old enough to be my dad' - Reece James reveals the veteran's influence on his career
The interviewer: First question: identity, your origins, and what's your coffee order?
The athlete: The name is Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will recognize that location. My coffee is a flat white.
The host: Has it always been a flat white?
James: Not exactly, I began with, such as, flavored coffees and similar drinks.
The presenter: Let's start by talking football. What does football mean to you?
The defender: I mean, from childhood, it's kind of my entire focus in education. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I just loved playing football.
The interviewer: Your first recollection of playing? Is this tough to answer because it was such a big part of your early years and growing up?
James: Not particularly, just because my memory is so bad. My first remembrance was probably, unsure, going to watch my brother compete. He's two years older than me, and he also participated as well.
The host: It was big in your household, correct, because your father was deeply engaged? He is a football coach too, right? Tell me a bit about that.
Reece: So we were three children growing up. We were all football mad, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.
The presenter: Can you recall a lot of those training periods? Because I read that starting from the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted drills with you in the back garden.
Reece: Yeah, I remember - the training started young. Thankfully, they paid off for me and my sister [the club and England forward Lauren James].
The interviewer: Tell me about your initial club that you represented as a youngster, what was it called, and your memories?
Reece: I don't remember much, frankly. It was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I believe I was there for about a year. It was from there 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 its development...
Reece: I began as a striker, and then subsequently moved to the wing, left side, right side, and eventually to central positions, and then eventually at right-back, and I disliked it at the time.
The presenter: Why did you hate it?
The athlete: Since I consistently desired to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the football as much but one day everything fell into place and I've been a defender since.
Reece James won the prestigious trophy in that year when his team defeated Man City 1-0 in the championship match in the Portuguese city
The interviewer: You said you began as an attacker - who was your idol?
Reece: The player I admired was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he represented the player I looked up to.
Kelly: Can you think of a turning point in your career - an experience that has influenced your development and the professional you have evolved into?
The defender: I'd likely identify going on loan. Bridging the gap between academy and senior level is most challenging and this represents probably what most players transitioning upwards find difficult.
Kelly: You're referring to the club, naturally. Why 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 first thing is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I acquired valuable exposure - I moved away from my friends and family and had to grow up fast. Participating on a regular schedule assisted significantly.
Kelly: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your professional journey?
Reece: I'd identify [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He is almost old enough to be my dad and has played at elite standard for many years. He always tried to assist me from the moment he arrived and continues to, presently he is not here [after leaving the club in 2024].
Kelly: In what way would he help you?
Reece: These were little messages off the pitch. During matches, he would sometimes see things that I saw alternatively and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.
The presenter: It was undoubtedly nice to see him recently [at the Club World Cup]?
The defender: It was wonderful to see him again. I'm pleased that his team did well in the competition [they lost in the semi-finals to the champions Chelsea]. It's always good to encounter him.
The interviewer: If you could return and experience again one match in your career, what would you choose?
James: Assuming the result is going to be the same - I'd select the Champions League [final].
Kelly: Besides winning, what was so special about the occasion
