Style Obsession, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents a new series in which leading personalities from sports and show business join host the interviewer for frank and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mindset and drive, covering defining moments, professional achievements and personal reflections. This series uncovers the individual beyond the player.

Reece James started training with the London club at the age of six and - after developing through the academy and into the senior squad - is now team leader.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements so far include earning his international bow against Wales in the year 2020, winning the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries 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 multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: Initial inquiry: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

The athlete: I am Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect many will recognize that location. My beverage is a specific coffee type.

The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

James: No, it started with, such as, flavored coffees and stuff.

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

The defender: I mean, from childhood, it was practically my entire focus in education. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I just loved the sport.

Kelly: What's your earliest memory of playing? Is this tough to respond to because it was such a big part of your childhood and development?

Reece: No, just because my recollection is so bad. My first remembrance was probably, I don't know, going to watch my sibling play. He is my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.

Kelly: It was big in your family, wasn't it, because your dad was so heavily involved? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Tell me a little about that.

Reece: Well there was three children growing up. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

The presenter: Do you remember a lot of those training periods? Because I read that as young as the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he conducted drills with you in the back garden.

Reece: Yes, I recall - the drills started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for myself and my sibling [the club and England forward Lauren James].

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

The defender: My recollection is limited, to be honest. It was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I think I was there for about twelve months. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for Chelsea.

Kelly: You didn't start as a defender at first, correct? Explain about your role evolution and how that changed...

Reece: I began as a forward, and then subsequently transitioned to wide positions, left wing, right wing, and later to midfield, and then eventually at right-back, and I disliked it at that period.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Since I always wanted to play midfield. There was less involvement with the ball as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

Kelly: You mentioned you began as an attacker - who was your idol?

James: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a Chelsea fan growing up and he was the player I looked up to.

The host: Identify a turning point in your professional life - a moment that has shaped you and the professional you have evolved into?

The defender: I'd likely identify going on loan. Transitioning between academy and senior level is most challenging and that is likely what most players making the jump find challenging.

The presenter: You're referring to Wigan, naturally. What made did Wigan become the right club for you at that period? The location was miles away from all you were familiar with in the capital - why did it work so effectively?

James: The first thing is that I played week in week out, which proves beneficial. I gained valuable exposure - I relocated from my friends and relatives and was forced to mature quickly. Participating on a regular schedule helped significantly.

Kelly: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your career?

Reece: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He is nearly sufficiently experienced to be my father and has played at elite standard for so long. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he joined and still does, presently he is departed [having left Chelsea in that year].

The host: How specifically would he help you?

James: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally see things that I saw differently and try and paint a different picture.

Kelly: It was undoubtedly nice to meet him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?

The defender: It was great to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his club did well in the tournament [they lost in the penultimate round to eventual winners Chelsea]. It's always good to see him.

Kelly: If you could go back and experience again one match in your professional history, what would you choose?

James: Assuming the result is going to be the same - I'd select the European Cup decider.

The host: Besides winning, what was so special about the occasion