When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That statement proved to be something of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his first call-up to the senior England team.
His rise from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a proper throwback, a journey seldom told in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing England too,” the player stated previously.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.
He spent 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 mainland so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.
Rather, he chose to remain on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to relax at home with my friends at weekends because I had missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that little bit of youth back was a thing I definitely required.
“To gain a bit of confidence by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. It was probably the most crucial factors that led me to this point.”
When he was just 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance stated back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession 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 – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an impressive start in men’s football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“It was hectic,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to sign a contract.”
In just a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against the Hatters.
Scott made eighty-three league outings for the club while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age 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 earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for England and I think he will progress to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, remarked previously.
Less than 90 days later, he joined the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
The midfielder experienced a challenging first season with the club, waiting until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly four months.
“I had a decent run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“It was yet another obstacle and it was shaping up as a pretty bad year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, developing a strong partnership in midfield with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the first team with the national coach.
And he has begun this season equally as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to the top five in the table.
“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my career,” Scott stated recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for football, improving day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
