Style Obsession, Looking Up To Didier Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

• Released
  47 minutes ago

This Sports Conversation represents a new series where prominent figures from athletics and entertainment participate with host Kelly Somers for frank and detailed discussions about the beautiful game.

The program examines mindset and drive, discussing pivotal experiences, career highlights and individual insights. This series reveals the individual beyond the player.

The Chelsea defender started practicing with the London club at the age of six and - having progressed through the academy and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, netting on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights to date include earning his England debut against Wales in the year 2020, claiming the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.

Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues affecting him over the past four seasons.

James sat down with Kelly Somers to discuss his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner the racing driver.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: identity, your origins, and what's your coffee order?

Reece James: The name is Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I expect more people will recognize that location. My beverage is a specific coffee type.

The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

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

Kelly: Let's start by talking football. What does football mean to you?

Reece: Essentially, from a little kid, it's kind of my entire focus in education. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I just loved the sport.

Kelly: Your first recollection of playing? Is this difficult to respond to because it was such a significant aspect of your early years and development?

James: Not particularly, simply due to my recollection is so bad. My first remembrance was probably, I don't know, attending matches of my brother compete. He's my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was big 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: So there was three of us growing up. We were all football mad, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

Kelly: Do you remember a lot of those sessions? Since I learned that as young as the age of four, you were outside and he conducted drills with you in the yard.

Reece: Yeah, I remember - the training started young. Fortunately, they paid off for me and my sister [the club and national team attacker Lauren James].

Kelly: Tell me about your initial club that you represented as a child, its name, and what can you remember?

Reece: My recollection is limited, to be honest. That was the local team in Kew. I believe I played for about twelve months. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

Kelly: You didn't start as a defender at initially, correct? Talk to me about your role evolution and how that changed...

Reece: I began as a striker, and then eventually moved to wide positions, left wing, right wing, and later to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I hated it at that period.

The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Since I always wanted to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the football as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

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

Reece: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he was the athlete I looked up to.

The host: Identify a pivotal moment in your career - an experience that has shaped you and the professional you have evolved into?

Reece: I'd likely identify going on loan. Transitioning between academy and senior level is most challenging and this represents probably what most players making the jump find difficult.

The presenter: You're talking about Wigan, of course. What made did Wigan become the ideal team for you at the time? It was distant from all you were familiar with in London - what made it successful so well?

Reece: The primary factor is that I played consistently, which proves beneficial. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my friends and family and was forced to grow up quickly. Participating on a consistent basis helped a lot.

The interviewer: Who has had the biggest impact on your professional journey?

The athlete: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] the veteran. He is almost sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at the highest level for so long. He always tried to assist me from the moment he joined and continues to, presently he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: In what way would he help you?

James: These were small pieces of advice off the pitch. On the pitch, he occasionally see things that I perceived differently and try and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It must have been nice to meet him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It was great to see him again. I'm pleased that his team did well in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions his team]. It's always good to see him.

Kelly: If you could return and replay a single game in your professional history, what would you choose?

Reece: If the outcome is going to be the identical - I'd select the Champions League [final].

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