Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Bond with Hamilton
- Published
The Football Interview constitutes an innovative program where prominent figures from sports and entertainment join presenter the interviewer for frank and comprehensive dialogues about football.
We'll explore mental approach and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and individual insights. The Football Interview uncovers the individual beyond the player.
Reece James started practicing with Chelsea at the age of six and - having progressed through the academy and into the senior squad - is now club captain.
James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, netting on his debut in a comprehensive win over the opposition in 2019.
Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements to date include earning his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, claiming the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.
Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries affecting him over recent years.
The athlete spoke with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with multiple Formula One title winner the racing driver.
The defender discusses the veteran's influence on his professional journey
Kelly Somers: First question: name, your origins, and your preferred coffee?
Reece James: The name is Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I expect more people will know that location. My beverage is a specific coffee type.
Kelly: Has it always been a flat white?
Reece: Not exactly, I began with, such as, vanilla lattes and stuff.
The presenter: Let's start by talking football. What does football mean to you?
The defender: I mean, from a little kid, it's kind of my entire focus in school. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I just loved the sport.
The interviewer: 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: No, simply due to my memory is quite poor. My first remembrance was likely, unsure, going to watch my sibling compete. He's two years older than me, and he also participated as well.
Kelly: It was big in your household, wasn't it, because your dad was deeply engaged? He is a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Tell me a bit about that.
Reece: Well there was three children during childhood. It was all football mad, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we used to train a lot with him.
The presenter: Can you recall many of those sessions? Since I learned that as young as the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted drills with you in the yard.
James: Yeah, I recall - the training started young. Thankfully, they paid off for me and my sibling [the club and England forward Lauren James].
Kelly: Tell me about your initial club that you played for as a youngster, what was it called, and what can you remember?
Reece: My recollection is limited, frankly. It was the local team in the area. I believe I played for about a year. It was from there that I was scouted for the professional club.
The host: You didn't start as a defender at initially, were you? Explain about your positional journey and its development...
James: I began as a striker, and then eventually moved to wide positions, left side, right wing, and later to central positions, and then finally at defensive role, and I disliked it at the time.
Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?
Reece: Because I consistently desired to play midfield. There was less involvement with the ball as much but eventually it just clicked and I've been a right-back since.
The defender claimed the prestigious trophy in that year when his team defeated Manchester City by one goal in the final in Porto
The interviewer: You said you began as an attacker - who was your role model?
James: The player I admired was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he was the athlete I looked up to.
Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your career - an experience that has influenced your development and the professional you have evolved into?
Reece: I would probably say going on loan. Transitioning between youth and senior level is the hardest 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 ideal team for you at the time? It was distant from all you were familiar with in the capital - why did it work so effectively?
Reece: The first thing is that I featured week in week out, which helps. I gained valuable exposure - I moved away from my companions and relatives and was forced to grow up quickly. Playing on a consistent basis assisted a lot.
The interviewer: Who has had the biggest impact on your career?
The athlete: I'd identify [Brazil defender] the veteran. He is almost old enough to be my dad and has played at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the moment he arrived and continues to, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in 2024].
The host: In what way would he assist you?
James: It was little messages off the pitch. During matches, he would sometimes see things that I saw differently and try and offer alternative perspectives.
The presenter: It was undoubtedly pleasant to meet him this summer [during the tournament]?
The defender: It was great to see him again. I'm happy that his club performed admirably in the competition [they lost in the penultimate round to the champions Chelsea]. It is consistently positive to encounter him.
The interviewer: Were you able to go back and replay a single game in your career, what would you choose?
Reece: If the outcome is remains the same - it would be the European Cup decider.
The host: Besides winning, what was so special about the occasion
