When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That prediction proved to be something of an underestimation.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his first call-up to the full England team.
His rise from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a true throwback, a story rarely told in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” Scott said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for me and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Learning in the lower tiers
His path in football has not been a conventional one.
He spent four and a half 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 Saints’ youth teams.
Before he turned 13, however, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and traveling every week was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at my home with my friends at weekends because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. To have that little bit of childhood back was something I really needed.
“Building a bit of confidence by coming back and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important 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 second-half replacement in their league match at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” manager the coach stated at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking his development after an promising beginning in adult football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a complete surprise.
“Midweek I played for his local side in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a contract.”
Within 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut versus Luton.
Scott went on to make 83 league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign 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 believe he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Less than 90 days after, he joined the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a difficult first season with the club, waiting until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and it was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England 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 the host nation, developing a strong partnership in the middle with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season just as strongly for his club, playing in every game 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 recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, getting better every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
