Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That statement proved to be something of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his first call-up to the senior England squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a proper throwback, a story seldom seen in the modern era.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, never mind playing in the Premier League and representing England as well,” the player stated previously.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he opted to stay on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of doing that. To have that slice of childhood again was something I definitely required.
“Building a bit of confidence by returning and taking part in island football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial factors that got me to this point.”
When he was just 16, Scott made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated back then.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side Bristol City – owned by islander their owner – had been monitoring his development after an impressive beginning in adult football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled the player. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against Luton.
Scott made 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I think he’ll play for England and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.
Less than 90 days after, he joined the Cherries for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his big move
Scott endured a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost several months.
“I had a decent run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained Scott.
“It was yet another setback and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first half.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, forming a strong partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started the current campaign equally as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to help them to the top five in the standings.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” Scott stated recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for football, improving every day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
