Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
This prediction turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Now aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his maiden call-up to the senior England squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper blast from the past, a journey seldom told in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, never mind playing in the top division and representing England as well,” Scott stated previously.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed completely for me and my loved ones.”
So how did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Learning in the lower tiers
His path in football has been far from a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth 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 chose to stay on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to relax at my home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed almost four and a half years of that experience. To have that little bit of childhood again was something I definitely required.
“To gain a bit of self-belief by coming back and playing local football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important factors that got me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager Tony Vance stated at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an promising start in adult football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” said Scott. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the next day I was with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“Midweek I played for his local side in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
Within a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus the Hatters.
He made 83 league outings for the club while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he will represent England and I think he’ll go on to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at the club, stated previously.
Less than 90 days after, he joined Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the club, having to wait until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly several months.
“I had quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like almost another setback and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable understanding in midfield with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team with the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as strongly for his club, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the standings.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my career,” Scott said earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, maintain my love for the game, improving every day, and with luck I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
