Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
This prediction proved to be a bit of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his first call-up to the senior Three Lions team.
His rise from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a true blast from the past, a story rarely told in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, never mind playing in the Premier League and representing England as well,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have changed completely for me and my family.”
But how did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Learning in the lower tiers
Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his 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. Bournemouth gave him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.
Rather, he chose to remain on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost several years of doing that. To have that little bit of childhood back was something I really required.
“Building some self-belief by returning and playing local football was massive for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial things that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their league fixture at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach stated back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his early progress after an impressive beginning in adult football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a contract.”
In just a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against the Hatters.
Scott made eighty-three league outings for the club while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he’ll play for England and I think he will progress to the top of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s manager at the club, remarked last year.
Less than three months after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his major transfer
Scott endured a difficult first season with the Cherries, waiting until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“It was yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, forming a formidable understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season equally as strongly for his club, featuring in all matches to guide them to the top five in the standings.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” the player stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, maintain my love for the game, improving day on day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
