Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
That prediction proved to be a bit of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has just received his first summons to the senior Three Lions squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a true blast from the past, a story seldom told in the modern game.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, let alone playing in the top division and representing the national team too,” Scott stated previously.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed completely for me and my family.”
But how did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Developing in non-league
His path in football has not been a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave Scott an opportunity 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 play for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was becoming a bit too much,” he recalled.
“All I desired to chill at my home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed nearly four and a half years of that experience. Getting that slice of childhood back was a thing I definitely needed.
“Building a bit of self-belief by coming back and playing local football was huge for me. It was probably one of the most important factors that got me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager 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 sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach stated back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side the Robins – chaired by islander their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an impressive beginning in adult football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled the player. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a hat-trick. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
Within 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus the Hatters.
Scott went on to make 83 league outings for the club while in his teens, often being used as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age 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 picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England playmaker 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 division’s team of the year and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I think he will represent England and I think he’ll go on to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated previously.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
Scott experienced a difficult debut campaign with the club, waiting until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost four months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like almost another obstacle and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a formidable understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season just as impressively for his club, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” Scott stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for the game, improving day on day, and with luck I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
