Back when the young midfielder made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That statement proved to be something of an underestimation.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his maiden summons to the senior Three Lions team.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a proper throwback, a journey seldom seen in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and representing the national team as well,” the player said in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
But how did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
His football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his island 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, however, they released him. The Cherries gave Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to relax at my home with my mates at weekends because I had missed almost four and a half years of doing that. To have that slice of youth again was a thing I really needed.
“Building some confidence by coming back and playing local football was massive for me. It was perhaps one of the most important factors that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach commented back then.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an impressive beginning in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled the player. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I featured for his local side in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to sign a contract.”
In just a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus Luton.
Scott made 83 league appearances for the club while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and flexibility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was their best player.
With his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the top of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, stated previously.
Within 90 days after, he joined the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his major transfer
Scott endured a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“I had a decent run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“It was almost another obstacle and it was turning out to be 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 get himself fit for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable partnership in midfield with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team under the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in every game to help them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” Scott said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, getting better every day, and with luck I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
