Style Obsession, Looking Up To Didier Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes a new series where prominent figures from sports and entertainment join presenter the interviewer for frank and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mindset and drive, covering defining moments, career highlights and individual insights. This series reveals the person behind the player.

Reece James began training with the London club at six years old and - having progressed through the academy and into the first team - is now club captain.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, netting on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in 2019.

Now 25, his professional achievements so far include making his England debut against the Welsh team in 2020, claiming the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries affecting him over recent years.

The athlete spoke with Kelly Somers to talk about his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with multiple Formula One title winner the racing driver.

The interviewer: Initial inquiry: name, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will recognize that location. My beverage is a specific coffee type.

The host: Was it consistently a flat white?

James: No, I began with, like, flavored coffees and stuff.

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

The defender: Essentially, from childhood, it was practically my entire focus in school. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of playing? Is this difficult to respond to because it represented a significant aspect of your early years and growing up?

Reece: No, just because my memory is quite poor. My first remembrance was probably, unsure, attending matches of my brother compete. He's two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

The host: It was big in your household, wasn't it, because your father was so heavily involved? He is a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Tell me a bit about that.

Reece: Well there was three of us during childhood. It was all football mad, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

The presenter: Can you recall a lot of those training periods? Since I learned that as young as the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted drills with you in the yard.

James: Yeah, I remember - the training began early. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for myself and my sibling [Chelsea and England forward his sister].

The interviewer: Tell me about your first ever team that you played for as a youngster, its name, and what can you remember?

Reece: My recollection is limited, to be honest. It was the local team in the area. I think I was there 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? Explain about your role evolution and how that changed...

James: I started off as a striker, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left side, right side, and eventually to central positions, and then finally at right-back, and I disliked it at the time.

Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Because I consistently desired to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the ball as frequently but eventually it just clicked and I've been a right-back since.

Kelly: You said you started as a forward - who served as your role model?

Reece: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan during youth and he was the player I looked up to.

Kelly: Identify a turning point in your career - a moment that has influenced your development and the player you have become?

Reece: I would probably say the loan spell. Bridging the gap 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 the club, naturally. Why was Wigan the right club for you at the time? It was distant from everything you were familiar with in London - what made it successful so effectively?

James: The primary factor is that I played consistently, which proves beneficial. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and relatives and had to grow up quickly. Playing on a consistent basis helped significantly.

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

Reece: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's nearly sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at the highest level for so long. He consistently attempted to assist me from the moment he joined and continues to, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in that year].

Kelly: In what way would he help you?

Reece: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. On the pitch, he would sometimes observe situations that I saw differently and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.

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

The defender: It proved wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his team performed admirably in the tournament [they were defeated in the semi-finals to eventual winners his team]. It's consistently positive to encounter him.

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

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

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