The summer of 2021, says Billy Gilmour, was a dream come true. Aged just 20 and playing in his first game for Scotland, our June cover star – pick up Tuesday’s issue or secure early access by signing up to the MH Squad – helped his team to a goalless draw with England at Wembley, a result that betrays nothing of a special – and spirited – performance. In the years since, however, Gilmour has had a rough time… to say the least.
After being loaned out to a struggling team at Norwich, he returned to a Chelsea in turmoil before moving to Brighton & Hove Albion under manager Graham Potter, who then suddenly left him to take charge at Chelsea… where Billy had just cleared out his locker. It was unsettling for the young player, to say the least.
“Things were going so well and then I was loaned out to Norwich, which was going to do me good,” says Gilmour. “It was a struggle, a fight. I learned a lot. I wasn’t enjoying myself on the pitch at the time. It didn’t look like I was going to play for Chelsea again – when I was called up for Scotland I wasn’t playing either – so I was just a young lad and it was a bad time for me.”
But Gilmour proved that adversity can build resilience by drawing on his own mental reserves – and those of the people around him.
“I had great people around me, like Kenny McLean and Grant Hanley, who really helped me. I learned how strong I am. I smiled even though it hurt, especially when I was living alone in Norwich. There were some nights where I sat there and thought, ‘This sucks,’ but my family helped me. You can only learn from that.”
His recent performances are testament to that mental strength: his career is back on track, with a standout season at Brighton & Hove Albion and strong performances in Europe that have earned him plenty of praise. He is ready for a career-defining summer in Germany – and he’s only 22.
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