When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
This statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his maiden summons to the senior Three Lions squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a proper throwback, a story seldom told in the modern game.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, never mind featuring in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” the player stated previously.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
So how did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s path in football has been far from a typical one.
He spent over four years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at my home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost several years of doing that. Getting that slice of childhood again was a thing I really needed.
“To gain a bit of self-belief by returning and taking part in local football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important things that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute in their league match at Phoenix Sports.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance stated back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Second-tier club the Robins – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s development after an impressive beginning in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
Within a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus the Hatters.
Scott made 83 league outings for the club while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s best young player honour, was selected in the league’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 his country and I think he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, remarked previously.
Less than three months later, he joined the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his major transfer
The midfielder endured a challenging 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 team.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost several months.
“I had quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained Scott.
“That felt like yet another setback and it was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started the current campaign just as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to the top five in the standings.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” the player stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
