Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents a new series where leading personalities from sports and entertainment join presenter the interviewer for frank and comprehensive dialogues about football.

We'll explore mindset and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and individual insights. This series reveals the person behind the athlete.

The Chelsea defender started practicing with Chelsea at six years old and - having progressed through the academy and into the senior squad - is now team leader.

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

Now 25, his professional achievements so far include making his England debut against Wales in 2020, winning the Champions League with his club in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.

However, things have not always gone smoothly, with multiple fitness issues affecting him over the past four seasons.

James sat down with the interviewer to talk about his professional peaks, 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: The name is Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will recognize that area. My beverage is a flat white.

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

James: No, it started with, like, vanilla lattes and similar drinks.

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

The defender: I mean, from a little kid, it's kind of my entire focus in education. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I simply adored the sport.

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this tough to answer because it represented a significant aspect of your childhood and development?

James: No, just because my recollection is so bad. My first remembrance was probably, unsure, going to watch my brother compete. He's two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

Kelly: It was big in your household, correct, because your dad was so heavily involved? He's a soccer trainer too, right? Tell me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well we were three of us during childhood. It was all football mad, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

Kelly: Can you recall many of those sessions? Since I learned that as young as the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he was doing drills with you in the back garden.

James: Yeah, I recall - the drills began early. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for myself and my sister [the club and England attacker Lauren James].

The interviewer: Talk to me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, what was it called, and your memories?

The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. It was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I think I was there for about twelve months. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for Chelsea.

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

James: I began as a striker, and then eventually moved to the wing, left wing, right side, 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. You didn't touch the ball as frequently but eventually everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

The interviewer: You said you began as a forward - who served as your idol?

Reece: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a Chelsea fan growing up and he was the athlete I admired.

Kelly: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your professional life - an experience that has influenced your development and the player you have become?

The defender: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Transitioning between academy and senior level is most challenging and that is likely what many athletes transitioning upwards find challenging.

The presenter: You're referring to Wigan, of course. What made was Wigan the ideal team for you at that period? The location was distant from everything you were familiar with in the capital - what made it successful so well?

Reece: The first thing is that I played consistently, which helps. I gained a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and family and had to mature fast. Playing on a regular schedule assisted significantly.

Kelly: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your career?

The athlete: I'd identify [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He is almost old enough to be my dad and has played at elite standard for so long. He consistently attempted to help me from the moment he joined and still does, even now he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].

Kelly: How specifically would he help you?

James: It was little messages off the pitch. On the pitch, he occasionally see things that I saw alternatively and try and offer alternative perspectives.

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

Reece: It was great to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his club performed admirably in the tournament [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions his team]. It is consistently positive to see him.

Kelly: If you could return and experience again a single game in your career, which would you pick?

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

Kelly: Besides winning, what made it exceptional about that night