Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
This statement turned out to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his first call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential international star is a true blast from the past, a journey rarely told in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and representing England too,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for myself and my family.”
But in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, however, they released him. The Cherries gave Scott an option and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.
Instead, he chose to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my friends at weekends because I missed almost several years of doing that. Getting that slice of childhood again was something I really needed.
“To gain some self-belief 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 got me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager Tony Vance commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Championship side Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his early progress after an promising start in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
Within a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against the Hatters.
He made eighty-three league appearances for the club while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
Thanks to his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the game,” his former manager, the player’s boss at the club, stated last year.
Less than 90 days later, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“I had a decent run at the end of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like almost another setback and it was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to regain fitness in time.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in every game to help them to the top five in the table.
“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” Scott said recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and with luck I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
