Gilmour's journey from 'Oor Billy' to Napoli's new star

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

On a balmy Wednesday in June, the location was 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', as he embarks on a new adventure with Napoli in Serie A.

Ardrossan beginnings and 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, and father Billy Snr coached him at his boys club Tass Thistle.

"My dad was in the navy for nine years," Gilmour told BBC Sport in May. "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'. To say I'm a professional footballer now, I'm happy.

"My family have been brilliant. Every home game they're there, away games they come down too and the same with the national team. They're my biggest supporters."

Mum has cursed the lack of ornaments in the Gilmour house growing up in fear of a stray shot or pass, while footage of him as a youngster shows him careering around the garden wearing shin guards so big he resembled a hockey goalie.

Rangers eventually came calling and so did an early chance to be involved in first-team matters.

"Of course it's your dad [who is your inspiration], but football-wise it was Cristiano Ronaldo," he said. "When I got a bit older and I understood what position I was going to play in, it was [Andres] Iniesta.

"I trained at 15 years old with the first team under Mark Warburton and David Weir.

"The kit didn't fit me but I was buzzing. I got my own number. I was 65... it's come down a lot now."

Billy Gilmour and then Rangers manager Mark Warburton

A leap of faith

The number has come down while the stock has risen immeasurably.

A move to Chelsea came in 2017 for the teenager, in a switch that grabbed headlines north of the border as Rangers lost one of their brightest prospects.

The deal was done just after his 16th birthday, with his senior debut coming under Frank Lampard just two years later.

"I took that jump," said Gilmour. "I had full confidence in myself to go down and give it my best. I always knew I could go back, but I'd regret it if I didn't.

"It was definitely a difficult decision. What made it easy was my dad being away for nine years. He said, 'you’re going to feel homesick sometimes and if you are it's normal, just give me a call'.

"Frank was amazing with me. He gave me the chance at Chelsea to express myself. He gave me a lot of trust."

On the move, Lampard told the Scottish FA's 'Oor Billy' documentary: "There was something about him in terms of his personality and his family's way, his mum and dad, that it struck home to me. A very normal family.

"They really wanted to support their boy."

Bouncing back and Scotland's hope?

Napoli's Stadio Diego Armando Maradona is Gilmour's new home

A handful of Chelsea appearances came for Gilmour, who by this point was growing in stature.

In the search for more game time, though, a loan spell to Norwich City would prove a difficult period for the Scot, with the Canaries being relegated from the Premier League.

However, the start of that season would bring Gilmour's first international cap, with him going on to play a starring role in Scotland's draw at Wembley at the last European Championships just days later.

"It definitely never went to plan," said Gilmour of Norwich.

"When I look back, it's helped me a lot. Nobody wants hard times in their career, they think it's just train and play and you'll start, start, start. But that's impossible.

"It was an eye opener and I learned a lot more about myself than the football."

Most recently, he was a part of a Brighton team that looks at home in the upper echelons of the Premier League.

Gilmour appeared equally comfortable in his own surroundings.

Only just turned 23, he was a linchpin for his club side, and the subject of national outcry when he was left out of Scotland's opening Euros thrashing at the hands of Germany in Munich. He started the next two games.

"He's been brilliant with me," Gilmour said of head coach Steve Clarke before the tournament. "Of course I'm from the same area as him, he's an Ayrshire boy.

"He's helped me a lot, especially at my time at Norwich when I wasn't playing. He had that loyalty to pick me and say, 'look, you're not going to play, but you're part of the squad. Train and work hard and go back to Norwich'.

"When I came into the squad he made me feel welcome from the start and I guess he now looks at me as an older player. I've been in the squad for a couple of years and trying to take more responsibility.

"I'm not a kid now."

Ciao, nostro Billy.