Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That statement turned out to be something of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his maiden summons to the senior England squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a proper blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern game.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind playing in the top division and playing for England too,” the player stated previously.
“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up at this level?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s path in football has not been a conventional one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air 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, however, they released him. Bournemouth gave Scott an option and he remained with them 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 turn out for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost several years of doing that. Getting that little bit of youth again was a thing I definitely required.
“To gain some confidence by returning and playing local football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important factors that got me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” manager the coach 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.”
Returning to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring his development after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled the player. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“Midweek I played for his local side in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to sign a deal.”
In just a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut versus the Hatters.
He went on to make eighty-three league outings for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and flexibility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s best young player honour, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was voted 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 top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Less than 90 days later, he joined the Cherries for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
Scott 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 team.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a knee operation 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 broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like almost another setback and it was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, forming a strong partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season just as strongly for his club, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” the player stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving day on day, and with luck I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
