Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before just 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
That prediction proved to be something of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his first call-up to the full Three Lions squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a proper blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing England too,” the player stated previously.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for me and my family.”
But how did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Developing in non-league
His football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before he turned 13, however, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he opted to stay on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that slice of childhood again was something I definitely needed.
“Building some confidence by coming back and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial factors that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half substitute in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Championship side the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an impressive start in men’s football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” said the player. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“Midweek I played for his local side in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
Within a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against Luton.
He went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
Thanks to his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s best XI and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated previously.
Within three months after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
Scott experienced a challenging first season with the Cherries, having to wait until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly four months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“It was yet another obstacle and it was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in midfield with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” the player said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for the game, getting better day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
