When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That statement proved to be something of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his maiden call-up to the senior Three Lions team.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a true blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the top division and playing for the national team too,” the player said previously.
“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for me and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s football journey has been far from a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and play for the club’s academy sides.
Before he turned 13, however, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave him an opportunity 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 turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that slice of youth back was a thing I definitely required.
“Building some confidence by returning and taking part in island football was massive for me. It was probably the most crucial factors that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by islander their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an impressive start in men’s football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” 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 played for his local side in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to sign a deal.”
Within 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut versus Luton.
Scott made 83 league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age 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 picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player award, was selected in the division’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, stated previously.
Less than three months after, he joined 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 the summer, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was just as disrupted, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost four months.
“I had a decent run at the end of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like almost another setback and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first half.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a strong partnership in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to help them to the top five in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for football, improving day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”
