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This Sports Conversation represents an innovative program where leading personalities from sports and show business join host Kelly Somers for candid and detailed dialogues about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mindset and drive, discussing pivotal experiences, professional achievements and individual insights. The Football Interview uncovers the person behind the athlete.

Reece James began training with Chelsea at the age of six and - after developing through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, scoring on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over the opposition in 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights to date include earning his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, winning the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.

However, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries impacting him over recent years.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to discuss his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner the racing driver.

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

Reece James: I am Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect more people will know that area. My beverage is a flat white.

Kelly: Has it always been a flat white?

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

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

The defender: I mean, from a little kid, it was practically all I knew in education. I wasn't the most academic student, and I just loved playing football.

The interviewer: Your first recollection of participating? Is this tough to answer because it represented a big part of your early years and development?

Reece: Not particularly, simply due to my recollection is so bad. My earliest memory was likely, unsure, attending matches of my sibling compete. He's my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.

The host: It was big in your family, correct, because your dad was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, right? Share with me a little about that.

The athlete: So there was three of us during childhood. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

The presenter: Do you remember many of those sessions? Since I read that as young as the age of four, you were outside and he conducted drills with you in the yard.

Reece: Yes, I recall - the training began early. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for me and my sibling [Chelsea and England forward Lauren James].

Kelly: Tell me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, its name, and what can you remember?

Reece: My recollection is limited, frankly. That was the local team in the area. I believe I played for about a year. It was from there that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

Kelly: You didn't start as a defender at initially, were you? Talk to me about your positional journey and its development...

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

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

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

Kelly: You said you started as an attacker - who was your role model?

Reece: The player I admired was [the legendary] Drogba. I grew up as a Chelsea fan during youth and he was the athlete I admired.

The host: Identify a turning point in your professional life - an experience that has shaped you and the professional you have evolved into?

The defender: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between academy and first-team football is the hardest and this represents likely what many athletes transitioning upwards find challenging.

The presenter: You're referring to Wigan, naturally. What made did Wigan become the ideal team for you at that period? It was miles away from everything you were familiar with in the capital - what made it successful so well?

James: The primary factor is that I featured consistently, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and family and had to mature fast. Playing on a consistent basis helped a lot.

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

Reece: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He is nearly old enough to be my dad and has played at the highest level for many years. He always tried to assist me from the moment he arrived and still does, presently he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].

Kelly: In what way would he assist you?

Reece: It was small pieces of advice away from games. On the pitch, he occasionally see things that I perceived alternatively and try and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly nice to meet him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?

The defender: It proved great to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his team did well in the tournament [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions his team]. It is consistently positive to see him.

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

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

The host: Other than winning, what was so special about that night