When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his maiden summons to the senior England squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper throwback, a story seldom told in the modern game.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” the player said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s football journey has not been a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his island home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.
Before he turned 13, however, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.
Rather, he chose to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. Getting that slice of youth back was something I definitely required.
“Building a bit of confidence by coming back and taking part in local football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach stated back then.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Second-tier club the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an impressive start in men’s football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled Scott. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against Luton.
Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the club while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – 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 skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the team.
His following season was just as disrupted, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost several months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first half.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to regain fitness in time.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has begun this season equally 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 occasions of my life,” Scott said recently.
“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving every day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
