Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
This statement proved to be something of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first call-up to the full England team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a true throwback, a journey seldom seen in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, never mind featuring in the top division and playing for England too,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have changed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has been far from a typical one.
He was part of four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. The Cherries gave Scott an option and he remained with them for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he chose to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week 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 nearly several years of that experience. Getting that slice of youth back was something I really needed.
“Building some confidence by coming back and taking part in local football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important factors that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their league match at Phoenix Sports.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Championship side Bristol City – owned by islander their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an impressive beginning in men’s football and arranged a trial in late 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a complete surprise.
“Midweek I played for his local side in London, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a contract.”
Within 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut versus Luton.
Scott made eighty-three league outings for the club while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was their best player.
With his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season award, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at the club, stated previously.
Less than 90 days later, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his big move
Scott experienced a challenging first season with the Cherries, waiting until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“There was a decent run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like yet another setback and it was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, developing a formidable partnership in midfield with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun the current campaign just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to help them to fifth in the standings.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” Scott said earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
