When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That statement turned out to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his maiden summons to the senior England squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a proper throwback, a journey seldom seen in the modern era.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a professional football player, never mind playing in the top division and playing for the national team too,” the player stated previously.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and things have transformed completely for me and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s football journey has not been a conventional one.
He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and feature 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 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 flying over every week was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at my home with my mates at weekends because I had missed almost four and a half years of that experience. Getting that slice of youth back was something I really required.
“Building some self-belief by coming back and taking part in island football was huge for me. It was perhaps one of the most important factors that led me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his early progress after an promising beginning in men’s football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut versus Luton.
He made 83 league outings for the club while in his teens, often being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
With his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season award, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he’ll play for England and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at the club, stated last year.
Within three months after, he joined the Cherries for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his major transfer
Scott experienced a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was equally disrupted, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for almost several months.
“I had quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like almost another setback and it was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, forming a formidable partnership in the middle with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season just as strongly for his club, featuring in all matches to guide them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” Scott stated recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving every day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
