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The Football Interview represents a new series where leading personalities from athletics and entertainment participate with presenter the interviewer for candid and detailed dialogues about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mindset and drive, covering pivotal experiences, professional achievements and personal reflections. The Football Interview reveals the person behind the player.

Reece James started training with the London club at six years old and - having progressed through the academy and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in 2019.

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

However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries affecting him over the past four seasons.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to discuss his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: name, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?

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

The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

Reece: No, it started with, such as, vanilla lattes and similar drinks.

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 education. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I just loved the sport.

Kelly: Your first recollection of participating? Is this difficult to answer because it was such a significant aspect of your childhood and growing up?

Reece: No, just because my recollection is quite poor. My earliest memory was likely, I don't know, going to watch my sibling play. He is two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

The host: It was significant in your family, wasn't it, because your father was so heavily involved? He is a soccer trainer too, right? Tell me a bit about that.

Reece: So there was three children growing up. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

Kelly: Can you recall many of those sessions? Because I read that starting from the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he conducted exercises with you in the yard.

Reece: Yes, I recall - the training started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for me and my sister [the club and England forward his sister].

Kelly: Tell me about your first ever team that you represented as a child, what was it called, and your memories?

The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. It was the local team in Kew. I think I was there for about a year. From that point that I was scouted for Chelsea.

The host: You didn't start as a defender at initially, were you? Talk to me about your role evolution and its development...

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

The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?

The athlete: Since I always wanted to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the football as frequently but eventually it just clicked and I've been a defender since.

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

James: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he represented the athlete I admired.

Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your career - a moment that has influenced your development and the professional you have evolved into?

The defender: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Transitioning between academy and first-team football is most challenging and that is likely what many athletes transitioning upwards find difficult.

Kelly: You're talking about Wigan, of course. What made was Wigan the ideal team for you at that period? It was miles away from everything you were familiar with in London - what made it successful so effectively?

Reece: The primary factor is that I played consistently, which helps. I gained a lot of experiences - I moved away from my friends and family and had to mature fast. Participating on a regular schedule helped significantly.

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

Reece: I'd identify [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's nearly old enough to be my father and has played at elite standard for so long. He always tried to assist me from the moment he arrived and continues to, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in 2024].

The host: How specifically would he help you?

Reece: These were little messages away from games. On the pitch, he would sometimes see things that I perceived alternatively and try and offer alternative perspectives.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly pleasant to meet him recently [at the Club World Cup]?

The defender: It was wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his club did well in the tournament [they were defeated in the penultimate round to eventual winners his team]. It's always good to encounter him.

Kelly: If you could return and replay one match in your professional history, what would you choose?

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

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