When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey 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 prediction turned out to be something of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his maiden summons to the full Three Lions squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper blast from the past, a journey seldom seen in the modern era.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” Scott said previously.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have changed completely for myself and my family.”
But in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s football journey has not been a typical one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to remain on Guernsey 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 the weekend because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. To have that slice of childhood again was a thing I really needed.
“Building a bit of self-belief by coming back and taking part in island football was massive 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, the teenager made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their league match at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager Tony Vance stated at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an promising beginning in men’s football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the next day I was with the first team, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
In just a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against Luton.
He made eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
Thanks to 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 Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season award, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he’ll play for England and I think he will progress to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Within 90 days later, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
Scott endured a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being in and out of the team.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like almost another obstacle and it was turning out to be 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 succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, developing a strong understanding in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team under the national coach.
And he has started this season equally as strongly for his club, playing in all matches to guide them to fifth in the standings.
“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” the player stated recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
