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The Football Interview constitutes an innovative program in which prominent figures from sports and entertainment participate with host Kelly Somers for candid and comprehensive discussions about football.

The program examines mindset and drive, discussing pivotal experiences, professional achievements and individual insights. This series uncovers the person behind the player.

Reece James started practicing with Chelsea at six years old and - having progressed through the youth system and into the first team - is now club captain.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, scoring on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements so far include making his England debut against the Welsh team in the year 2020, claiming the Champions League with his club in 2021, and being named 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 talk about his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

The interviewer: First question: name, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure many will know that location. My coffee is a flat white.

Kelly: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

James: Not exactly, I began with, like, vanilla lattes and similar drinks.

Kelly: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What does football mean to you?

The defender: I mean, from childhood, 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 playing? Is this tough to respond to because it represented a big part of your early years and growing up?

James: Not particularly, just because my memory is quite poor. My first remembrance was likely, unsure, going to watch my sibling play. He is two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was significant in your family, correct, because your father was deeply engaged? He is a football coach too, right? Share with me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well we were three of us growing up. It was all football mad, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

The presenter: Can you recall many of those sessions? Since I read that starting from the age of four, you were outside and he was doing drills with you in the back garden.

James: Yeah, I remember - the training began early. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for me and my sister [the club and England forward his sister].

Kelly: Talk to me about your first ever team that you played for as a youngster, its name, and what can you remember?

Reece: I don't remember much, frankly. That was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I think I played for about a year. From that point that I was scouted for the professional club.

The host: You didn't start as a defender at first, correct? Talk to me 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 central positions, and then finally at right-back, and I hated it at that period.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Since I always wanted to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the football as much but one day it just clicked and I became 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 grew up as a supporter growing up and he was the athlete I looked up to.

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

The defender: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is most challenging and this represents probably what most players transitioning upwards find challenging.

Kelly: You're referring to the club, naturally. What made did Wigan become the ideal team for you at the time? The location was distant from all you knew 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 moved away from my companions and relatives and was forced to mature fast. Playing on a consistent basis helped significantly.

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

Reece: I'd identify [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's nearly old enough to be my father and has competed at elite standard for many years. He always tried to help me from the minute he arrived and continues to, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in 2024].

Kelly: In what way would he help you?

Reece: These were little messages away from games. During matches, he occasionally see things that I perceived differently and try and offer alternative perspectives.

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

The defender: It was wonderful to see him again. I'm happy that his team did well in the tournament [they lost in the semi-finals to the champions Chelsea]. It is consistently positive to see him.

The interviewer: Were you able to go back and experience again a single game in your career, what would you choose?

James: If the outcome is remains the same - it would be the Champions League [final].

Kelly: Other than victory, what was so special about that night