Premier League star recalls Jimmy Bell’s nasty Rangers kit knock back.
Billy Gilmour is the one that got away for Rangers, the academy product who has gone on to star in one of the top leagues in the world and be a regular at international level.
The former Auchenhowie kid had a sliding doors moment with the team in upheaval and Graeme Murty as interim manager, it might all have been so different.
He got that close to playing for the first team that he had a strip made up only for Billy Gilmour to be given the news that he wasn’t in the squad, the 22-year old recalls in an SFA documentary a typical Jimmy Bell moment from the much liked, and missed, kitman.
Billy Gilmour recalls Rangers uniform and Jimmy Bell memories
Now at Brighton, the small midfielder is punching above his weight having found a boss who appreciates him.
Despite the early praise and accolades at Chelsea, he remains level-headed, with Bell playing a critical part in keeping his feet on the ground.
“See with this kit, that top, Jimmy Bell was the kitman and when I was leaving to go to Chelsea, I tried to take my top after the game, Jimmy took it off me straight away – ‘you’ve not played a game for Rangers’.
“When I was leaving, he said, ‘going to Chelsea?’
“And I was like ‘aye’ and he was like ‘I’ve got a present for you’, and he gave me the top.”
Bell, in his own distinctive flair then told Gilmour where to go….
There are so many instances like this one, players that begged for extra kit or for a favour only to be met with a swift rebutal.
Billy Gilmour might not have played for Rangers but it always looked like a question of circumstance rather than quality or because the club didn’t rate him.
He should have been our youngest ever player and would have been a worth recipient of the tag.
Over the last few of seasons, it seemed as if a return might be on the cards.
First of all, when he was out of favour at Chelsea and secondly, after he spent a season on loan at Norwich City and watched his reputation take a hit.
There were murmurs not long after he arrived for Brighton but the south coast outfit are more patient than most when it comes to bringing players into the first-team.
They also have Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo in midfield.
Gilmour still holds Rangers at heart and it would feel like a bit of a disgrace if at one point he doesn’t get to pull on the renowned jersey.
And there would be nobody prouder than Jimmy Bell.
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