Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Didier Drogba & Bond with Hamilton
- Released
The Football Interview constitutes an innovative program in which leading personalities from athletics and entertainment join host Kelly Somers for frank and detailed dialogues about the beautiful game.
We'll explore mental approach and motivation, discussing defining moments, professional achievements and personal reflections. This series uncovers the person behind the athlete.
Reece James started training with Chelsea at six years old 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, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in September 2019.
Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements to date include making his England debut against Wales in 2020, winning the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.
However, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries affecting him over recent years.
James sat down with Kelly Somers to talk about his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.
'He's nearly old enough to be my dad' - Reece James reveals Thiago Silva's impact on his professional journey
Kelly Somers: First question: identity, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?
Reece James: The name is Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure many will know that location. My coffee is a specific coffee type.
The host: Has it always been a flat white?
James: Not exactly, it started with, like, flavored coffees and similar drinks.
The presenter: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold to you?
The defender: Essentially, from childhood, it's kind of my entire focus in education. I wasn't 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 represented a significant aspect of your early years and growing up?
Reece: Not particularly, simply due to my memory is quite poor. My first remembrance was likely, I don't know, attending matches of my brother compete. He's my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.
The host: It was big in your family, wasn't it, because your father was deeply engaged? He is a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Share with me a little about that.
The athlete: Well we were three children growing up. It was all football mad, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.
Kelly: Do you remember many of those training periods? Since I learned that starting from the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted drills with you in the back garden.
Reece: Yes, I recall - the training started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for myself and my sibling [Chelsea and England attacker Lauren James].
Kelly: Tell me about your first ever team that you represented as a child, what was it called, and what can you remember?
The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. It was the local team in the area. I think I was there for about twelve months. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.
The host: You didn't start as a backline player at initially, correct? Explain about your positional journey and how that changed...
Reece: I began as a striker, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left side, right side, and later to midfield, and then eventually at right-back, and I hated it at the time.
The presenter: Why did you hate it?
Reece: Because I always wanted to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the ball as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I've been a right-back since.
Reece James won the Champions League in that year when his team defeated Man City by one goal in the championship match in Porto
The interviewer: You mentioned you began as a forward - who served as your role model?
James: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I was 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 shaped you and the professional you have become?
The defender: I'd likely identify going on loan. Bridging the gap between youth and first-team football is the hardest and this represents probably what many athletes transitioning upwards find challenging.
The presenter: You're talking about Wigan, naturally. What made did Wigan become the right club for you at that period? It was distant from all you were familiar with in London - what made it successful so well?
James: The first thing is that I featured week in week out, which proves beneficial. I acquired valuable exposure - I relocated from my companions and relatives and was forced to grow up fast. Playing on a consistent basis assisted significantly.
Kelly: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your professional journey?
The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's almost sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for many years. He always tried to help me from the minute he joined and still does, presently he is not here [having left Chelsea in that year].
The host: In what way would he assist you?
James: It was little messages away from games. On the pitch, he occasionally observe situations that I perceived differently and try and offer alternative perspectives.
Kelly: It was undoubtedly pleasant to see him recently [during the tournament]?
Reece: It proved great to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his team did well in the competition [they lost in the penultimate round to eventual winners Chelsea]. It is always good to see him.
Kelly: If you could go back and replay one match in your career, which would you pick?
Reece: Assuming the result is remains the same - it would be the European Cup decider.
The host: Besides winning, what made it exceptional about the occasion
