When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
That statement turned out to be a bit of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his maiden summons to the full England squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a true throwback, a journey seldom seen in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and playing for England as well,” Scott said previously.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for me and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, however, they released him. Bournemouth gave Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he opted to stay on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed nearly several years of doing that. Getting that little bit of childhood again was a thing I really needed.
“Building a bit of self-belief by coming back and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important things that led me to this point.”
When he was just 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the second day I was with the first team, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against the Hatters.
He made eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility 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 earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was selected in the division’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at the club, remarked previously.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for the Cherries for a reported fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
Scott endured a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“I had quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be a pretty bad start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, forming a strong understanding in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to guide them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my career,” Scott stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
