Gilmour's journey from 'Oor Billy' to Scotland's hope

Originally Posted by BBC News

Pundits and fans have been clamouring for Billy Gilmour to start on Wednesday against Switzerland

Billy Gilmour’s football journey is one not travelled alone.

Last Wednesday afternoon in Frankfurt Airport’s’ Terminal A, a platoon of Tartan Army foot soldiers were readying themselves for the final leg of their journey. Among them, was the Gilmour brigade.

A clutch of number 14s on the back of Scotland strips moved through the place, the same name centred above them in homage to one man.

Mum and dad were there, with more than a dozen others marching behind to support the man Scotland fans are screaming to be the saviour of the nation’s Euro 2024 campaign.

But that support, or indeed belief, is nothing new for Ardrossan’s brightest son, fondly nicknamed ‘Oor Billy’.

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Ardrossan beginnings & family ties

It all started with a ball at his feet as soon as he could walk.

Grandad practiced with him, mother Carrie took him to training, while father Billy Snr coached him at his boys club, Tass Thistle.

“My dad was in the Navy for nine years,” Gilmour told BBC Sport. “He played football himself, probably not to the same standard as me, but he says that’s where I get his skills from.

“Everything I did, every day when I woke up it was, ‘I want to go and play football’. Read Full Article

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