Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Didier Drogba & Bond with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes a new series where prominent figures from athletics and entertainment participate with presenter the interviewer for frank and comprehensive dialogues about football.

The program examines mindset and drive, discussing pivotal experiences, career highlights and personal reflections. This series uncovers the person behind the player.

Reece James started 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 the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, scoring on his debut in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights to date include earning his international bow against Wales in the year 2020, claiming the Champions League with his club in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with multiple fitness issues affecting him over recent years.

James sat down with the interviewer to discuss his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his relationship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: identity, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?

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

Kelly: Was it consistently a flat white?

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

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

Reece: I mean, from childhood, it was practically all I knew in school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I just loved playing football.

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

James: No, just because my recollection is so bad. My first remembrance was likely, I don't know, attending matches of my brother play. He's my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was significant in your family, correct, because your dad was so heavily involved? He is a football coach too, right? Tell me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well we were three children during childhood. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

The presenter: Do you remember a lot of those training periods? Because I learned that as young as the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he was doing drills with you in the back garden.

Reece: Yes, I remember - the training began early. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for myself and my sister [the club and England attacker Lauren James].

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

The defender: I don't remember much, frankly. It was the local team in the area. I believe 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 initially, correct? Talk to me about your positional journey and how that changed...

James: I began as a forward, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left side, right side, and later to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I hated it at the time.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Since I consistently desired to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the football as much but eventually everything fell into place and I became a defender since.

The interviewer: You mentioned you started as an attacker - who was your idol?

Reece: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter during youth and he was the athlete I admired.

Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your career - an experience that has influenced your development and the professional you have evolved into?

The defender: I'd likely identify going on loan. Bridging the gap between academy and first-team football is most challenging and this represents likely what most players making the jump find challenging.

The presenter: You're referring to the club, of course. Why was Wigan the right club for you at the time? It was distant from everything you were familiar with in the capital - what made it successful so well?

James: The first thing is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I acquired valuable exposure - I moved away from my friends and family and had to mature fast. Participating on a regular schedule helped significantly.

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

The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He is nearly sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for so long. He always tried to help me from the minute he joined and still does, even now he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: How specifically would he assist you?

Reece: It was little messages off the pitch. During matches, he would sometimes observe situations that I saw differently and attempt and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly nice to see him recently [at the Club World Cup]?

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

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

Reece: Assuming the result is remains the same - I'd select the European Cup decider.

The host: Besides winning, what was so special about that night