Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

• Published
  Less than an hour ago

The Football Interview represents an innovative program in which prominent figures from sports and entertainment join host the interviewer for frank and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

The program examines mindset and drive, covering defining moments, career highlights and individual insights. The Football Interview reveals the individual beyond the athlete.

Reece James started training with Chelsea at six years old and - having progressed through the academy and into the first team - is now club captain.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, scoring on his debut in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights so far include earning his international bow against Wales in 2020, claiming the European Cup 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 the past four seasons.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to discuss his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

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

Reece James: I am Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I expect many will know that area. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

Reece: No, I began with, like, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

Kelly: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold to you?

The defender: I mean, from childhood, it was practically my entire focus in education. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

The interviewer: Your first recollection of playing? Is this tough to answer because it was such a significant aspect of your early years and growing up?

James: No, simply due to my memory is quite poor. My earliest memory was probably, unsure, attending matches of my sibling play. He's two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was big in your family, wasn't it, because your father was so heavily involved? He is a soccer trainer too, right? Tell me a bit about that.

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

Kelly: Can you recall a lot of those training periods? Since I read that as young as the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he was doing drills with you in the yard.

Reece: Yes, I recall - the drills began early. Thankfully, they paid off for myself and my sister [the club and England forward his sister].

The interviewer: Talk to me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, its name, and what can you remember?

The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. 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 Chelsea.

The host: You didn't start as a defender at initially, were you? Talk to me about your positional journey and its development...

James: I started off as a forward, and then eventually moved to wide positions, left wing, right wing, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at defensive role, and I disliked it at the time.

The presenter: Why did you hate 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 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 looked up to.

The host: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your professional life - 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 senior level is most challenging and that is probably what most players transitioning upwards find challenging.

The presenter: You're referring to Wigan, of course. What made was Wigan the ideal team for you at that period? It was distant from all you were familiar with in London - why did it work so well?

Reece: The first thing is that I played week in week out, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my friends and family and had to grow up quickly. Participating on a consistent basis helped a lot.

Kelly: Who has had the biggest impact on your career?

Reece: I'd identify [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He is nearly old enough to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for many years. He always tried to help me from the moment he arrived and continues to, presently he is departed [having left Chelsea in that year].

The host: In what way would he assist you?

Reece: These were small pieces of advice away from games. On the pitch, he occasionally see things that I saw differently and try and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It must have been pleasant to meet him this summer [during the tournament]?

Reece: It proved wonderful to see him again. I'm happy that his team did well in the competition [they lost in the penultimate round to eventual winners Chelsea]. It is consistently positive to see him.

Kelly: Were you able to go back and experience again one match in your professional history, which would you pick?

Reece: Assuming the result is remains the same - it would be the Champions League [final].

The host: Other than victory, what made it exceptional about that night