Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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The Football Interview constitutes an innovative program where leading personalities from sports and entertainment participate with host Kelly Somers for frank and detailed discussions about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mental approach and drive, discussing defining moments, professional achievements and personal reflections. The Football Interview reveals the individual behind the player.

Reece James began training with Chelsea at the age of six and - having progressed through the academy and into the first team - is now club captain.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, scoring on his debut in a comprehensive win over the opposition in 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights so far include making his international bow against the Welsh team in the year 2020, winning the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

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

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to discuss his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

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

The athlete: The name is Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I'm sure many will know that location. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

Kelly: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

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

The presenter: Let's start by talking football. What significance does soccer hold to you?

The defender: I mean, from childhood, it's kind of my entire focus in school. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I just loved playing football.

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this difficult to answer because it was such a big part of your childhood and growing up?

Reece: Not particularly, simply due to my memory is so bad. My first remembrance was probably, I don't know, attending matches of my sibling play. He's two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

Kelly: It was significant in your household, wasn't it, because your father was so heavily involved? He is a football coach too, right? Share with me a little about that.

The athlete: Well there was three of us growing up. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

The presenter: Can you recall many of those training periods? Since I read that starting from the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he was doing drills with you in the yard.

Reece: Yes, I recall - the training started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for myself and my sibling [the club and England forward Lauren James].

The interviewer: Tell 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, to be honest. It was the local team in Kew. I believe I played for about twelve months. It was from there that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

The host: And you weren't a backline player at initially, correct? Explain about your role evolution and its development...

James: I began as a forward, and then eventually transitioned to wide positions, left side, right side, and later to central positions, and then eventually at right-back, and I hated it at the time.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

Reece: Since I always wanted to play midfield. You didn't touch the football as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I've been a defender since.

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

Reece: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I was a supporter growing up and he was the player I looked up to.

Kelly: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your professional life - a moment that has shaped you and the player you have become?

The defender: I would probably say the loan spell. Bridging the gap between youth and first-team football is the hardest and this represents likely what many athletes making the jump find difficult.

Kelly: You're talking about Wigan, naturally. Why did Wigan become the right club for you at the time? The location was distant from everything you knew in the capital - what made it successful so well?

James: The first thing is that I featured consistently, which helps. I acquired valuable exposure - I relocated from my friends and relatives and had to grow up fast. Playing on a consistent basis assisted a lot.

Kelly: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your career?

Reece: I'd identify [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's almost old enough to be my father and has played at the highest level for many years. He always tried to assist me from the minute he arrived and continues to, even now he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: How specifically would he assist you?

James: It was little messages off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally observe situations that I perceived alternatively 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 wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his team did well in the tournament [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions his team]. It's always good to see him.

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

James: Assuming the result is going to be the same - I'd select the Champions League [final].

The host: Besides victory, what made it exceptional about the occasion