Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager back then assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That prediction turned out to be a bit of an understatement.
Now aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his maiden call-up to the full Three Lions squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a true blast from the past, a journey seldom told in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my family.”
But how did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?
Learning in the lower tiers
Scott’s football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his island home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, though, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer him an option and he remained with them for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he chose to stay on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was starting to feel a bit too much,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to relax at my home with my mates at weekends because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. To have that little bit of childhood back was something I really needed.
“To gain a bit of self-belief by returning and playing local football was massive for me. It was perhaps the most crucial things 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 was introduced as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach stated back then.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his development after an impressive start in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” said the player. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
In just 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus Luton.
He went on to make 83 league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, often being used as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I think he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his big move
Scott experienced a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as disrupted, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for nearly four months.
“I had a decent 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 obstacle and the year was shaping up as a pretty bad start for the first half.”
But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness for the tournament.
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 strong partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season just as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in every game to help them to the top five in the standings.
“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” the player stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for football, improving day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
