Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Didier Drogba & Bond with Hamilton
- Published
The Football Interview represents a new series where prominent figures from athletics and show business participate with presenter Kelly Somers for frank and detailed dialogues about football.
We'll explore mental approach and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, professional achievements and personal reflections. The Football Interview reveals the person behind the player.
Reece James started practicing with Chelsea at six years old and - after developing through the academy and into the first team - is now club captain.
The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, scoring on his debut in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in 2019.
Now 25, James' career highlights so far include earning his England debut against Wales in 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.
Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries impacting him over the past four seasons.
The athlete spoke with the interviewer to discuss his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with multiple Formula One title winner the racing driver.
'He's nearly old enough to be my dad' - Reece James reveals Thiago Silva's impact on his career
Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: name, your origins, and what's your coffee order?
Reece James: I am Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect more people will know that area. My beverage is a flat white.
The host: Was it consistently a flat white?
Reece: Not exactly, it started with, such as, vanilla lattes and stuff.
Kelly: We'll begin by talking football. What does football mean to you?
Reece: I mean, from childhood, it's kind of all I knew in school. 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 respond to because it was such a big part of your childhood and growing up?
James: Not particularly, simply due to my memory is quite poor. My earliest memory was likely, I don't know, attending matches of my sibling compete. He is two years older than me, and he also participated as well.
Kelly: It was big in your family, wasn't it, because your dad was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, right? Share with me a little about that.
Reece: Well we were three children growing up. We were all football mad, 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 read that as young as the four years old, you were outside and he was doing drills with you in the back garden.
James: Yes, I recall - the training started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for me and my sister [Chelsea and national team forward his sister].
Kelly: Talk to me about your initial club that you represented as a child, what was it called, and what can you remember?
The defender: My recollection is limited, to be honest. That was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I believe I was there for about twelve months. It was from there that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.
Kelly: You didn't start as a defender at first, were you? Talk to me about your positional journey and its development...
James: I started off as a forward, and then eventually transitioned to the wing, left side, right side, and eventually to central positions, and then finally at right-back, and I hated it at the time.
Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?
The athlete: Because I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the football as frequently but one day it just clicked and I've been a right-back since.
Reece James won the Champions League in that year when his team defeated Man City by one goal in the championship match in Porto
The interviewer: You said you started as a forward - who was your idol?
James: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I was a supporter during youth and he represented the player I admired.
The host: Can you think of a turning point in your professional life - a moment that has influenced your development and the professional you have evolved into?
Reece: I would probably say going on loan. Transitioning between youth and senior level is the hardest and this represents likely what many athletes transitioning upwards find challenging.
Kelly: You're referring to the club, naturally. Why did Wigan become the right club for you at the time? The location was miles away from all you knew in the capital - what made it successful so effectively?
James: The primary factor is that I played consistently, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and relatives and was forced to mature quickly. Playing on a consistent basis helped a lot.
Kelly: Who has had the biggest impact on your career?
The athlete: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He's nearly old enough to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he joined and still does, even now he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].
The host: In what way would he assist you?
Reece: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. On the pitch, he would sometimes see things that I saw alternatively and try and offer alternative perspectives.
The presenter: It must have been nice to see him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?
The defender: It proved wonderful to see him again. I'm pleased that his club performed admirably in the competition [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions Chelsea]. It is always good to encounter him.
Kelly: Were you able to go back and replay a single game in your professional history, which would you pick?
Reece: Assuming the result is going to be the same - it would be the Champions League [final].
The host: Other than victory, what was so special about that night
