When the young midfielder made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
That statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his maiden call-up to the full Three Lions team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a proper throwback, a journey seldom told in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, never mind featuring in the Premier League and playing for England too,” the player stated previously.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for me and my family.”
But in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s football journey has been far from a typical one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, 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, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.
Rather, he chose to remain on the island and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at my home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that little bit of childhood again was a thing I really needed.
“Building a bit of confidence by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. It was perhaps the most crucial things that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an impressive beginning in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the next day I was with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
In just 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against the Hatters.
Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the club while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.
Thanks to his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s best young player award, was selected in the division’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he’ll play for his country and I think he will progress to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Within three months after, he joined Bournemouth for a reported fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
The midfielder endured a difficult debut campaign 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 starting XI.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost several months.
“I had quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“It was almost another setback and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has begun this season just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to help them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, improving day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
