When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That prediction proved to be a bit of an underestimation.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his maiden summons to the full Three Lions team.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a proper blast from the past, a journey seldom told in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, never mind playing in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” Scott said previously.
“It has been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s path in football has been far from a conventional one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he opted to stay on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at home with my friends at the weekend because I missed nearly four and a half years of that experience. Getting that little bit of childhood back was a thing I really required.
“Building some confidence by returning and playing local football was massive for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial factors that got me to this point.”
When he was just 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute 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 side because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by islander their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an promising beginning in men’s football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said the player. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
Within 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus Luton.
He made 83 league outings for the club while in his teens, often being used as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s best young player award, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for England and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
The midfielder endured a challenging first season with the club, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the team.
His following season was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.
“I had quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.
“It was yet another setback and the year was shaping up as a pretty bad year for the first half.”
But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the first team with 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 national team would be among the most special moments of my life,” the player said recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a player, keep enjoying the game, getting better every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
