Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Bond with Hamilton
- Published
The Football Interview represents an innovative program where leading personalities from sports and show business join presenter Kelly Somers for candid and detailed discussions about football.
We'll explore mindset and motivation, discussing defining moments, career highlights and individual insights. The Football Interview reveals the individual behind the athlete.
The Chelsea defender started training with the London club at the age of six and - having progressed through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now club captain.
James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in 2019.
Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights to date include making 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 a series of injuries impacting him over the past four seasons.
The athlete spoke with Kelly Somers to discuss his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.
The defender discusses Thiago Silva's impact on his career
Kelly Somers: First question: identity, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?
Reece James: The name is Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I expect many will recognize that location. My beverage is a specific coffee type.
The host: Has it always been a that particular coffee?
James: No, it started with, like, flavored coffees and stuff.
The presenter: We'll begin by talking football. What does football mean to you?
The defender: I mean, from a little kid, it was practically all I knew in education. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.
The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this difficult to respond to because it was such a big part of your early years and development?
Reece: Not particularly, just because my recollection is quite poor. My first remembrance was probably, unsure, attending matches of my sibling play. He's my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.
The host: It was significant in your household, correct, because your dad was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Share with me a little about that.
The athlete: So we were three of us during childhood. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we used to train extensively with him.
The presenter: Do you remember many of those training periods? Since I read that as young as the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted exercises with you in the yard.
James: Yeah, I remember - the training began early. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for myself and my sister [the club and national team attacker his sister].
The interviewer: Talk to me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, its name, and your memories?
Reece: I don't remember much, to be honest. It was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I think I was there for about a year. From that point that I was scouted for the professional club.
The host: And you weren't a backline player at first, were you? Talk to me about your role evolution and its development...
James: I started off as a striker, and then eventually moved to wide positions, left wing, right wing, and later to central positions, and then finally at right-back, and I disliked it at that period.
Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?
The athlete: Because I always wanted to play midfield. You didn't touch the football as frequently but eventually it just clicked and I've been a right-back since.
The defender claimed the Champions League in that year when his team defeated Manchester City by one goal in the final in the Portuguese city
Kelly: You mentioned you began as a forward - who was your role model?
Reece: The player I admired was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he was the athlete I looked up to.
Kelly: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your professional life - a moment that has influenced your development and the professional you have evolved into?
Reece: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is most challenging and this represents probably what most players making the jump find difficult.
The presenter: You're referring to Wigan, naturally. Why was Wigan the ideal team for you at that period? It was miles away from all you knew in the capital - what made it successful so effectively?
Reece: The primary factor is that I played week in week out, which proves beneficial. I acquired valuable exposure - I relocated from my friends and family and was forced to grow up quickly. Playing on a regular schedule assisted a lot.
The interviewer: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your professional journey?
The athlete: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He is almost sufficiently experienced to be my father and has competed at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the moment he arrived and continues to, presently he is not here [having left Chelsea in that year].
The host: In what way would he help you?
James: It was small pieces of advice away from games. On the pitch, he would sometimes see things that I perceived alternatively and attempt and paint a different picture.
Kelly: It was undoubtedly nice to meet him recently [at the Club World Cup]?
Reece: It was wonderful to see him again. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the tournament [they lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners his team]. It's always good to see him.
The interviewer: Were you able to go back and replay one match in your career, which would you pick?
James: Assuming the result is going to be the identical - I'd select the European Cup decider.
The host: Other than winning, what was so special about that night
