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The Football Interview constitutes an innovative program where leading personalities from athletics and entertainment participate with presenter Kelly Somers for candid and detailed dialogues about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mindset and drive, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and personal reflections. The Football Interview uncovers the person beyond the athlete.

Reece James began training with Chelsea at the age of six and - having progressed through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now team leader.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, netting on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements to date include making his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, claiming the Champions League with his club in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with multiple fitness issues affecting him over the past four seasons.

James sat down with Kelly Somers to discuss his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

Kelly Somers: 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 many will recognize that area. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

Kelly: Was it consistently a flat white?

Reece: Not exactly, I began with, such as, vanilla lattes and stuff.

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

The defender: I mean, from a little kid, it was practically my entire focus in school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

The interviewer: Your first recollection of participating? Is this difficult to answer because it was such a significant aspect of your early years and development?

James: No, simply due to my recollection is quite poor. My first remembrance was likely, unsure, attending matches of my sibling compete. He's my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was big in your household, correct, because your dad was deeply engaged? He is a soccer trainer too, right? Tell me a little about that.

The athlete: Well we were three of us during childhood. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

Kelly: Do you remember a lot of those training periods? Since I read that as young as the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he was doing exercises with you in the back garden.

Reece: Yeah, I recall - the drills started young. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for myself and my sister [the club and national team forward his sister].

Kelly: Tell me about your initial club that you represented as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

Reece: I don't remember much, to be honest. It was the local team in Kew. I believe I played for about a year. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

The host: You didn't start as a defender at first, correct? Explain about your positional journey and how that changed...

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

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Because I consistently desired to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the ball as much but eventually everything fell into place and I've been a right-back since.

The interviewer: You mentioned you started as a forward - who served as your role model?

Reece: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he was the player I looked up to.

The host: Can you think of a turning point in your career - an experience that has shaped you and the professional you have become?

Reece: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Transitioning between academy and senior level is the hardest and this represents likely what many athletes transitioning upwards find challenging.

Kelly: You're referring to the club, naturally. What made was Wigan the right club for you at the time? It was distant from all you were familiar with in the capital - what made it successful so well?

James: The primary factor 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. Participating on a regular schedule helped a lot.

Kelly: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your career?

The athlete: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] the veteran. He's nearly old enough to be my father and has played at the highest level for many years. He always tried to assist me from the minute he joined and still does, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in that year].

The host: In what way would he help you?

James: These were small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he would sometimes observe situations that I perceived alternatively and attempt and paint a different picture.

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

Reece: It proved wonderful 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 his team]. It is always good to encounter him.

The interviewer: If you could go back and experience again a single game in your career, which would you pick?

Reece: If the outcome is going to be the same - it would be the European Cup decider.

Kelly: Other than winning, what was so special about the occasion