Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents a new series in which leading personalities from athletics and entertainment join host Kelly Somers for frank and detailed dialogues about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mindset and drive, covering defining moments, career highlights and individual insights. This series uncovers the person beyond the athlete.

Reece James began practicing with the London club at six years old and - after developing through the academy and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, netting on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights to date include earning his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, claiming the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries impacting him over the past four seasons.

James sat down with the interviewer to discuss his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

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

The athlete: The name is Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I expect more people will know that location. My beverage is a flat white.

Kelly: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

Reece: No, I began with, such as, vanilla lattes and stuff.

Kelly: Let's start by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold to you?

Reece: Essentially, from a little kid, it was practically all I knew in school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

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

James: Not particularly, simply due to my recollection is so bad. My first remembrance was likely, I don't know, 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, correct, because your dad was so heavily involved? He's a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Share with me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well we were three children growing up. It was all football mad, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

Kelly: Can you recall many of those sessions? Because I read that as young as the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted exercises with you in the back garden.

Reece: Yes, I recall - the drills started young. Thankfully, they paid off for me and my sibling [Chelsea and national team forward his sister].

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

The defender: I don't remember much, to be honest. It was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I think I was there for about a year. It was from there that I was scouted for Chelsea.

Kelly: And you weren't a backline player at first, were you? Explain about your positional journey and its development...

Reece: I began as a forward, and then eventually transitioned to wide positions, left wing, right wing, and later to midfield, and then eventually at defensive role, and I disliked it at the time.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

Reece: Since I always wanted to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the ball as frequently but one day it just clicked and I became a right-back since.

The interviewer: You mentioned you started as a forward - who served as your idol?

Reece: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter growing up and he represented the athlete I looked up to.

The host: Can you think of 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. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is most challenging and that is probably what many athletes making the jump find difficult.

The presenter: You're referring to Wigan, of course. Why was Wigan the right club for you at that period? It was distant from all you knew in the capital - what made it successful so effectively?

Reece: The first thing is that I featured week in week out, which proves beneficial. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and family and was forced to grow up fast. Playing on a consistent basis helped a lot.

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

Reece: I'd identify [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's almost sufficiently experienced to be my father and has competed at the highest level for so long. He always tried to assist me from the minute he joined and continues to, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in that year].

Kelly: In what way would he help you?

James: It was small pieces of advice away from games. During matches, he would sometimes observe situations that I perceived alternatively and try and paint a different picture.

Kelly: It was undoubtedly nice to see him recently [during the tournament]?

Reece: It was wonderful to see him again. I'm pleased that his club did well in the tournament [they were defeated in the semi-finals to eventual winners Chelsea]. It is always good to see him.

Kelly: Were you able to return and replay one match in your professional history, what would you choose?

Reece: If the outcome is going to be the identical - it would be the Champions League [final].

Kelly: Besides victory, what was so special about the occasion