Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
This statement turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his maiden call-up to the full Three Lions squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a true throwback, a story rarely told in the modern game.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, never mind playing in the top division and playing for 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 transformed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Learning in the lower tiers
His path in football has been far from a conventional one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“All I desired to chill at my home with my mates at weekends because I had missed nearly four and a half years of that experience. To have that slice of youth again was a thing I really required.
“Building some self-belief by returning and playing local football was huge for me. It was probably one of the most important things that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side 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 – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring his early progress after an impressive beginning in men’s football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“It was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to sign a contract.”
Within a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against Luton.
He went on to make 83 league outings for the club while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.
With his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player honour, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I believe he will represent his country and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at the club, remarked previously.
Within 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the club, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season 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 the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like yet another setback and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible 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 matches as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team with the national coach.
And he has started this season just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to guide them to the top five in the table.
“To play for the England senior 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 keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for the game, improving day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
