When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
This prediction turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his maiden summons to the full Three Lions squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a proper throwback, a story rarely 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 playing in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my family.”
So in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Learning in the lower tiers
His football journey has been far from a typical one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his 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 released him. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to remain on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at home with my friends at weekends because I missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. Getting that slice of youth back was a thing I really needed.
“To gain some confidence by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. It was probably one of the most important things that got me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking his early progress after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” said Scott. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the next day I was with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in London, returned home and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. 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 Luton.
He went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – such was his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s boss at the club, stated last year.
Within 90 days later, he joined Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a challenging 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 in and out of the team.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly several months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.
“That felt like almost another setback and it was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, forming a formidable partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season just as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to help them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” the player said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, getting better day on day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
