Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
This prediction proved to be something of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his maiden summons to the full England squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a proper throwback, a journey rarely seen in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, never mind playing in the top division and playing for England too,” Scott said previously.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for myself and my family.”
But how did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself 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’ academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his island home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.
Instead, he chose to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at my home with my mates at weekends because I had missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that slice of childhood again was something I definitely needed.
“Building a bit of confidence by coming back and taking part in local football was massive for me. It was probably the most crucial things 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 was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the manner he runs with 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 monitoring Scott’s development after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled Scott. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
Within 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against Luton.
Scott went on to make 83 league appearances for the club while in his teens, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – such was his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Less than three months after, he signed for the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
Scott experienced a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost several months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“It was yet another setback and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has started this season just as strongly for his club, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the standings.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
