Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his first summons to the full England team.
His rise from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a proper throwback, a story rarely told 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 representing the national team as well,” the player said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for myself and my family.”
So in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s football journey has not been a conventional one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, however, they released him. The Cherries gave him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he chose to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at my home with my friends at weekends because I missed nearly four and a half years of that experience. To have that slice of youth again was a thing I definitely needed.
“Building a bit of confidence by returning and playing island football was huge for me. It was perhaps one of the most important factors that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach stated at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Second-tier club the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring his development after an promising start in adult football and arranged a trial in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled the player. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the next day I was with the first team, which was a complete shock.
“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a hat-trick. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
In just 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus the Hatters.
Scott made 83 league outings for the club while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward 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.
Thanks to his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I think he’ll play for his country and I think he will progress to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Less than 90 days later, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
Scott experienced a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself in and out of the team.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for almost several months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.
“That felt like yet another setback and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special moments of my career,” the player said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a player, maintain my love for football, getting better every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”
