Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before just 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That prediction proved to be a bit of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his first call-up to the full Three Lions team.
His rise from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a true blast from the past, a journey seldom seen in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a professional football player, let alone featuring in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” the player said previously.
“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for me and my loved ones.”
So how did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up at this level?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s football journey has been far from a typical one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he chose to remain on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of that experience. Getting that slice of childhood back was a thing I really needed.
“Building a bit of confidence by coming back and playing local football was huge for me. It was probably the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by islander their owner – had been monitoring his development after an promising start in men’s football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus Luton.
Scott went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the club while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
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 England playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player award, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was voted the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Within three months later, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his major transfer
Scott experienced a difficult debut campaign with the club, having to wait until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly four months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad start for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness for the tournament.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, forming a strong partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” the player said recently.
“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and with luck I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
