When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That prediction proved to be something of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his maiden call-up to the full England team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a proper blast from the past, a story seldom seen in the modern era.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the top division and representing the national team as well,” Scott said in a recent interview.
“It has been a incredible five or six years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has been far from a typical one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.
Before he turned 13, however, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave Scott an option and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he chose to stay on the island and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly 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 confidence by returning and taking part in local football was massive for me. It was probably the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute 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 his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach commented back then.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring his early progress after an promising beginning in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled the player. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.
“Midweek I featured for his local side in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
In just 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against the Hatters.
He made 83 league outings for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wing-back – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s young player of the season award, was selected in the division’s best XI and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he will represent England and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, the player’s boss at the club, remarked last year.
Within 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his major transfer
Scott endured a challenging first season with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost four months.
“I had a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like almost another obstacle and it was shaping up as a pretty bad start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, developing a strong understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the first team under the national coach.
And he has started the current campaign just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to help them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” Scott said earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
