When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
This statement turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his maiden call-up to the senior England squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a proper blast from the past, a story seldom seen in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, let alone playing in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” the player said previously.
“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Developing in non-league
His path in football has been far from a typical one.
He was part of four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer him 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 the island and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at my home with my friends at weekends because I missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. To have that slice of childhood back was something I definitely required.
“Building a bit of self-belief by returning and taking part in island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial factors that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half substitute in their league match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach stated back then.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Championship side Bristol City – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an promising beginning in adult football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled Scott. “The first day I joined the youth team, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.
“Midweek I played for his local side in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
Within a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against the Hatters.
He went on to make 83 league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player honour, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, remarked previously.
Within three months later, he signed for the Cherries for a reported fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
The midfielder endured a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“There was a decent run at the end of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.
“It was yet another setback and it was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first half.”
But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, forming a strong partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to help them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my life,” Scott stated recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, getting better every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
