When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
This prediction turned out to be a bit of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his first summons to the full England team.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a true blast from the past, a journey seldom told in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, never mind playing in the top division and representing the national team as well,” the player said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my family.”
But in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s path in football has been far from a typical one.
He was part of four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before he turned 13, however, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he chose to stay on the island and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at my home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of that experience. To have that little bit of childhood back was a thing I really needed.
“Building some confidence by returning and taking part in island football was massive for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important factors that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Second-tier club the Robins – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an impressive start in men’s football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled Scott. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
Within a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus Luton.
Scott made 83 league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
Thanks to his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s best young player award, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for his country and I think he’ll go on to the top of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated previously.
Within 90 days later, he joined the Cherries for a reported fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
The midfielder endured a challenging first season with the club, waiting until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the team.
His second campaign was just as disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly several months.
“I had a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad start for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, developing a formidable partnership in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the senior side with the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as impressively for his club, playing in every game to help them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” the player said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, improving day on day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
