Chelsea: Father of Reece and Lauren James on his children's rise to football stardom



Lauren James joined her brother on the pitch in Porto to celebrate with the rest of the team.

Football is a family affair for the James family. He is a coach and helps young people thrive when he is not watching his children play.

He set up the business after his football career ended, after spells with Woking and Aldershot.

Growing up, brothers Joshua, 21, and Lauren, 19, as well as full-back Reece, 21, were Enrolled in academies. They both played for the Under-9s at Fulham and the Under 17s at the same club, before going on to play for the Under 17s at the same club.

Not many families had time to talk.

James has 10 caps for England.

Exposure to more coaching and equipment helped their development.

He tells the radio station that they played every day. They were playing with each other after school. There are not many families that had the time to contact each other, they had a field and all the equipment they needed. They had poles, goals, and football after I was a coach.

If I didn't coach them, things were set up so that they could work on things after a session. At a young age, Joshua might have 50 balls to cross, and there might be times where he needs to head or volley a ball.

His love of sport and cricket led him to try his hand at cricket.

"Reece used to play in the middle of the field at Chelsea, he used to play up front," recalls Nigel. He was always in goal when we played against other soccer schools, but he was always in defence when we played at home. He was probably better than any other player as a goalkeeper when he was younger.

He had to have the best gloves and boots. He wanted the best bats and pads for cricket. He'd take his stuff and play with his friend in the field. He loved sport.

It made her a better player.

Lauren, who joined from Manchester United in the summer, made her debut for the club in the last week of the season, after a number of injuries.

"The impact that happened was very large," he continues. Without that upbringing, Lauren wouldn't be where she is today.

The way she touches the ball is amazing. She is the player she is today because of that.

The fans of the club may not know what they have, but they will find out soon.

They can write their own script.

Lauren made her debut for the team and her brother watched from the stands.

Big decisions took both James children away from their family and to the north west to aid their development. Lauren joined Manchester United in the summer of 2018).

After moving to the DW Stadium for a year in the Championship, it was a turning point for his son, according to his father.

"Wigan was the beginning of Reece," says Nigel. I'm a realist and lots of people said he'd play higher. I've seen a lot of talent that isn't up to par. I could say after that season that he could have a career in the Championship. I wasn't questioning his ability, it was about trust and someone has to put you in the team. He had proven himself in the Championship.

We were looking at going out on loan again after he was given a chance. They were interested. Jody Morris talked to Reece after Frank took the job. He came to me and said that he wanted to play for the club. It isn't for me to tell you not to play and go to Palace or Seagulls. You have to leave that to him.

Lauren, a 16-year-old, left her job atArsenal to play for a new team in the Women's Championship. The excitement of the move and praise for the club, but not the professionalism of the manager of the club has impressed him.

He says that it was a great starting point for her and a manager who looked after her as if she was her own. Her brother was also 20 minutes away. She had to learn to find her feet as a growing woman, and there were some fun times there. She was the best player, so if she was not fit, she played.

There is no need to play at 60 percent because there is a squad of excellent players. Lauren needed to be in a professional environment in order to progress in her development.

He has become a regular in the England squad and has already won the European Championship. Lauren wants to break into the first team for both club and country.

James says that they can pick what they want to do. They can write their own script if they continue to do the business.