Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
This statement turned out to be a bit of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his first summons to the senior England squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a true blast from the past, a journey rarely told in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, never mind featuring in the top division and playing for England as well,” the player said previously.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Developing in non-league
His football journey has been far from a typical one.
He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.
Before he turned 13, though, they released him. The Cherries gave Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.
Rather, he opted to stay on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and traveling every week was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that slice of youth again was something I really required.
“To gain some self-belief by returning and playing island football was massive for me. It was probably one of the most important things that got me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Second-tier club the Robins – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an promising start in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled Scott. “Day one I joined the youth team, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“Midweek I played for his local side in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against the Hatters.
He made 83 league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s best young player award, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he’ll play for England and I think he’ll go on to the top of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Within three months after, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder endured a difficult first season with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“I had quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“It was yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, forming a formidable understanding in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team with the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the table.
“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” Scott said recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing 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.”
