When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That prediction turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has just received his first summons to the senior Three Lions team.
His rise from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper throwback, a journey rarely seen in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing England as well,” the player stated previously.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s football journey has been far from a typical one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.
Instead, he opted to stay on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of doing that. Getting that little bit of childhood back was something I definitely needed.
“To gain a bit of confidence by returning and playing local football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important factors that led me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, Scott became 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 get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach stated 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
Championship side the Robins – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an promising start in adult football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to sign a deal.”
In just 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against the Hatters.
He went on to make 83 league outings for the club while in his teens, often being used as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod 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 team of the year and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I think he’ll play for his country and I think he’ll go on to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.
Less than three months after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
Scott endured a challenging first season with the club, waiting until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“It was almost another setback and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, developing a formidable partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team under the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign just as strongly for his club, featuring in all matches to help them to the top five in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” the player stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, improving day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
