Style Obsession, Looking Up To Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

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The Football Interview constitutes a new series in which leading personalities from athletics and show business participate with presenter the interviewer for frank and comprehensive discussions about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mindset and drive, discussing pivotal experiences, career highlights and personal reflections. The Football Interview reveals the person beyond the athlete.

Reece James started practicing with the London club at six years old and - having progressed through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

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

Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights to date include making his international bow against the Welsh team in the year 2020, winning the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries affecting him over recent years.

James sat down with the interviewer to discuss his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: First question: name, 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'm sure many will know that location. My beverage is a specific coffee type.

The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

James: Not exactly, I began with, such as, vanilla lattes and stuff.

Kelly: Let's start by discussing soccer. What does football mean to you?

The defender: Essentially, from a little kid, it's kind of all I knew in education. I wasn't the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this tough to answer because it represented a big part of your early years and development?

James: No, just because my memory is quite poor. My earliest memory was likely, unsure, attending matches of my sibling compete. He's my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was significant in your household, correct, because your dad was deeply engaged? He is a soccer trainer too, right? Tell me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well we were three children during childhood. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

Kelly: Do you remember a lot of those training periods? Because I learned that as young as the age of four, you were outside and he was doing drills with you in the yard.

Reece: Yes, I remember - the training started young. Thankfully, they paid off for myself and my sister [the club and England forward his sister].

The interviewer: Talk to me about your initial club that you played for as a child, what was it called, and your memories?

The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. That was the local team in Kew. I think I played for about twelve months. It was from there that I was scouted for the professional club.

The host: And you weren't a defender at initially, were you? Explain about your positional journey and how that changed...

Reece: I started off as a forward, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left wing, right side, and eventually to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I disliked it at that period.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Because I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the ball as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

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

James: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a supporter growing up and he was the athlete I admired.

The host: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your career - an experience that has shaped you and the player you have evolved into?

Reece: I'd likely identify going on loan. Bridging the gap between youth and first-team football is the hardest and this represents likely what many athletes making the jump find challenging.

Kelly: You're talking about Wigan, of course. Why was Wigan the ideal team for you at that period? The location was miles away from everything you knew in London - why did it work so well?

James: The primary factor is that I played consistently, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my friends and relatives and had to grow up quickly. Participating on a consistent basis helped significantly.

Kelly: Who has had the greatest influence on your professional journey?

Reece: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He's nearly old enough to be my father and has competed at the highest level for many years. He consistently attempted to help me from the moment he joined and still does, presently he is not here [having left Chelsea in 2024].

The host: In what way would he help you?

Reece: It was little messages off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally see things that I perceived differently and try and offer alternative perspectives.

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

The defender: It was wonderful to see him again. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions Chelsea]. It is consistently positive to see him.

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

James: Assuming the result is remains the same - it would be the European Cup decider.

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