Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That prediction proved to be a bit of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his maiden summons to the full Three Lions squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a proper throwback, a story seldom seen in the modern game.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, never mind playing in the top division and representing England too,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, however, they released him. The Cherries gave Scott an option and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he chose to remain on the island and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to relax at home with my friends at weekends because I had missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that slice of childhood again was something I definitely required.
“Building some confidence by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be 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 Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had trouble sleeping 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 manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by islander their owner – had been tracking Scott’s development after an impressive start in men’s football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” said the player. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to sign a deal.”
Within a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut versus the Hatters.
He went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With 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 national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he will represent his country and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Within three months later, he signed for the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
The midfielder endured 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 second campaign was just as disrupted, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost four months.
“I had a decent run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.
“It was yet another obstacle and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, forming a formidable understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has begun this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in every game to guide them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” Scott said recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for the game, improving every day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”