When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
That statement turned out to be something of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his maiden summons to the full Three Lions team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a true blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern game.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team too,” Scott stated previously.
“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
But how did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s path in football has not been a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.
Rather, he opted to remain on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to relax at home with my friends at weekends because I had missed almost several years of doing that. To have that slice of youth again was a thing I definitely required.
“To gain some self-belief by returning and playing local football was huge for me. It was perhaps the most crucial things that led 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 was introduced as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager Tony Vance commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Second-tier club the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an impressive start in men’s football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” said the player. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
Within 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against the Hatters.
He made eighty-three league outings for the Robins while in his teens, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
Thanks to his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player award, was selected in the league’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated previously.
Within 90 days later, he joined Bournemouth for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his big move
Scott endured a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost several months.
“I had a decent run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and it was shaping up as a pretty bad year for the first half.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a strong partnership in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the senior side with the national coach.
And he has begun this season equally as strongly for his club, playing in all matches to help them to fifth in the standings.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
