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The Football Interview represents an innovative program where leading personalities from athletics and entertainment join host the interviewer for candid and detailed dialogues about football.

The program examines mental approach and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and personal reflections. This series reveals the person behind the athlete.

Reece James began training with Chelsea at the age of six and - after developing through the academy and into the first team - is now team leader.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, netting on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights to date include earning his international bow against Wales in the year 2020, winning the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

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

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: 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 expect more people will recognize that location. My coffee is a flat white.

Kelly: Has it always been a that particular coffee?

Reece: No, I began with, such as, flavored coffees and stuff.

Kelly: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold to you?

Reece: Essentially, from a little kid, it was practically my entire focus in education. I wasn't the most academic student, and I just loved the sport.

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this tough to answer because it was such a significant aspect of your childhood and growing up?

James: No, just because my recollection is quite poor. My earliest memory was likely, I don't know, 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 family, correct, because your dad was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Tell me a little about that.

Reece: So there was three children growing up. We were all football mad, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

Kelly: Do you remember many of those sessions? Because I read that starting from the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted exercises with you in the back garden.

James: Yeah, I recall - the training started young. Thankfully, they paid off for me and my sibling [the club and England attacker Lauren James].

The interviewer: Tell me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

Reece: My recollection is limited, frankly. It was the local team in Kew. I think I played for about twelve months. From that point that I was scouted for the professional club.

The host: You didn't start as a defender at first, were you? Explain about your role evolution and how that changed...

Reece: I started off as a forward, and then subsequently moved to the wing, left side, right wing, and later to midfield, and then eventually at defensive role, and I hated it at that period.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

Reece: Since I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the football as much but one day it just clicked and I became a right-back since.

The interviewer: You said you began as a forward - who was your role model?

Reece: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he was the player I admired.

Kelly: Identify a turning point in your career - a moment 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 most challenging and that is likely what most players making the jump find difficult.

The presenter: You're talking about Wigan, of course. What made was Wigan the ideal team for you at that period? It was miles away from all you knew in London - why did it work so effectively?

Reece: The primary factor is that I featured consistently, which helps. I gained valuable exposure - I relocated from my companions and family and had to mature quickly. Participating on a regular schedule helped a lot.

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

The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's almost old enough to be my father and has competed at the highest level for so long. He always tried to help me from the minute he joined and still does, presently he is not here [having left Chelsea in 2024].

Kelly: How specifically would he help you?

Reece: These were little messages off the pitch. During matches, he would sometimes see things that I perceived differently and try and offer alternative perspectives.

The presenter: It must have been pleasant to see him recently [during the tournament]?

The defender: It proved great to see him again. I'm happy that his team did well in the competition [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions his team]. It is always good to see him.

Kelly: Were you able to go back and experience again a single game in your career, which would you pick?

Reece: Assuming the result is going to be the same - it would be the European Cup decider.

Kelly: Besides winning, what was so special about the occasion