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 coach back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
That prediction proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his first call-up to the full England squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a true throwback, a journey seldom seen in the modern game.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, never mind playing in the Premier League and playing for the national team as well,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”
So how did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s football journey has been far from a typical one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to fly 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 decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave him an option and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his mind was not in it.
Instead, he opted to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and traveling every week was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“All I desired to chill at home with my friends at weekends because I had missed nearly several years of that experience. Getting that slice of childhood again was a thing I definitely required.
“To gain a bit of self-belief by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”
When he was just 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 Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an promising beginning in adult football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” said the player. “The first day I joined the youth team, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“Midweek I played for his local side in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to sign a contract.”
Within 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against the Hatters.
Scott went on to make 83 league appearances for the club while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s young player of the season award, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was voted 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 pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
The midfielder endured a difficult first season with the Cherries, waiting until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“It was 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 England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started the current campaign equally as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to the top five in the standings.
“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for football, getting better day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
