When the young midfielder made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That statement turned out to be something of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his maiden summons to the senior Three Lions team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a true throwback, a journey seldom seen in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, let alone playing in the top division and playing for the national team too,” the player said previously.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and things have transformed completely for myself and my family.”
But in what way did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?
Learning in non-league
His path in football has not been a typical one.
He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, though, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he opted to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of that experience. To have that slice of childhood back was something I really required.
“Building some confidence by returning and playing island football was massive for me. It was probably the most crucial factors that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an promising start in men’s football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
In just a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus the Hatters.
He made 83 league outings for the Robins while in his teens, often being used as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
Thanks to his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was selected in the division’s best XI and was named the club’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 pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, stated previously.
Within three months later, he joined the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
The midfielder endured a difficult first season with the club, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the team.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“I had quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like yet another setback and it was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first half.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness in time.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season equally as strongly for his club, featuring in every game to guide them to the top five in the standings.
“Representing 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 must continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
