When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
This prediction turned out to be something of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his maiden summons to the full Three Lions squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a true blast from the past, a journey rarely told in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the Premier League and representing England too,” Scott said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Scott, referred to affectionately 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 spent over four years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries gave him 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 opted to remain on the island and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at my home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost several years of that experience. To have that little bit of childhood again was a thing I really required.
“To gain some confidence by returning and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important things that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an promising beginning in men’s football and arranged a trial in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled Scott. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the next day I was with the first team, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
Within 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against Luton.
Scott made eighty-three league outings for the club while in his teens, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.
Thanks to his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and national team playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season award, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I think he’ll play for his country and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s boss at the club, remarked last year.
Within 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
Scott endured a challenging first season with the club, having to wait until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself in and out of the team.
His second campaign 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 good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.
“It was yet another setback and it was shaping up as a pretty bad year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, forming a formidable understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as impressively for his club, 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 moments of my life,” the player said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for the game, getting better every day, and with luck I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
