Style Obsession, Looking Up To Didier Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton
- Published
This Sports Conversation constitutes an innovative program in which prominent figures from sports and show business participate with presenter the interviewer for candid and detailed dialogues about the beautiful game.
The program examines mindset and drive, discussing pivotal experiences, professional achievements and personal reflections. The Football Interview reveals the individual behind the athlete.
The Chelsea defender began practicing with Chelsea at the age of six and - after developing through the academy and into the senior squad - is now club captain.
The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, scoring on his debut in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in September 2019.
Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements so far include making his international bow against Wales in the year 2020, winning the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.
Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with multiple fitness issues impacting him over the past four seasons.
James sat down with Kelly Somers to talk about his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.
The defender discusses Thiago Silva's impact on his career
The interviewer: First question: name, your origins, and what's your coffee order?
Reece James: I am Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I expect more people will recognize that area. My coffee is a specific coffee type.
Kelly: Has it always been a that particular coffee?
James: Not exactly, it started with, such as, flavored coffees and similar drinks.
Kelly: Let's start by discussing soccer. What does football mean to you?
Reece: I mean, from a little kid, it was practically my entire focus in school. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I just loved playing football.
Kelly: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this tough to answer because it was such a big part of your childhood and growing up?
Reece: No, simply due to my recollection is quite poor. My first remembrance was probably, unsure, going to watch my brother compete. He is two years older than me, and he used to play as well.
The host: It was significant in your family, wasn't it, because your father was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Share with me a little about that.
The athlete: So there was three of us during childhood. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.
The presenter: Can you recall many of those sessions? Because I read that starting from the four years old, you were outside and he was doing drills with you in the back garden.
James: Yes, I remember - the training started young. Fortunately, they paid off for me and my sibling [Chelsea and England attacker his sister].
Kelly: Tell me about your initial club that you represented as a child, what was it called, and your memories?
The defender: I don't remember much, to be honest. That was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I think I played for about a year. It was from there that talent spotters noticed me for Chelsea.
Kelly: You didn't start as a backline player at initially, correct? Talk to me about your positional journey and its development...
James: I began as a forward, and then subsequently transitioned to the wing, left wing, right wing, and later to central positions, and then eventually at right-back, and I disliked it at the time.
The presenter: Why did you hate it?
The athlete: Because I always wanted to play midfield. You didn't touch the ball as much but one day everything fell into place and I've been a right-back since.
The defender claimed the prestigious trophy in that year when Chelsea defeated Man City by one goal in the final in Porto
The interviewer: You said you started as a forward - who served as your role model?
Reece: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter growing up and he represented the athlete I looked up to.
Kelly: Can you think of a turning point in your professional life - a moment that has influenced your development and the player you have evolved into?
Reece: I would probably say the loan spell. Bridging the gap between academy and senior level is most challenging and this represents probably what most players making the jump find challenging.
The presenter: You're referring to Wigan, naturally. What made was Wigan the right club for you at that period? The location was distant from everything you knew in London - why did it work so well?
James: The primary factor is that I featured consistently, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my friends and relatives and was forced to grow up fast. Participating on a consistent basis helped a lot.
Kelly: Who has had the greatest influence on your professional journey?
Reece: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He is almost old enough to be my dad and has played at elite standard for so long. He consistently attempted to help me from the moment he joined and still does, presently he is not here [having left Chelsea in that year].
The host: How specifically would he assist you?
James: These were little messages off the pitch. On the pitch, he would sometimes see things that I saw alternatively and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.
Kelly: It must have been pleasant to see him recently [at the Club World Cup]?
Reece: It proved great to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his club did well in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions Chelsea]. It's always good to encounter him.
Kelly: Were you able to go back and replay one match in your professional history, which would you pick?
James: If the outcome is going to be the same - I'd select the European Cup decider.
The host: Other than winning, what made it exceptional about the occasion