When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That statement proved to be a bit of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first summons to the full England team.
His rise from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a true throwback, a story rarely seen in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, 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 incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island 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 option and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.
Rather, he chose to remain on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at my home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that slice of childhood back was something I really required.
“To gain a bit of self-belief by coming back and taking part in island football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important things that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their league match at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach stated back then.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side the Robins – owned by islander their owner – had been tracking Scott’s development after an promising beginning in men’s football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” said Scott. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus the Hatters.
Scott went on to make 83 league outings for the Robins while in his teens, often being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – such was his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I think he’ll play for England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Less than 90 days later, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a challenging debut campaign with the club, having to wait until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the team.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for almost four months.
“I had quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained Scott.
“That felt like almost another setback and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad start for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable understanding in midfield with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started the current campaign just as strongly for his club, featuring in every game to guide 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,” Scott said recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, getting better every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”
