Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
This statement proved to be a bit of an underestimation.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his first call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a true throwback, a story seldom seen in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, never mind playing in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” the player said previously.
“It has been a incredible five or six years of my life, and things have changed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
But how did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has been far from a typical one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, though, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.
Instead, he chose to remain on the island and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to relax at my home with my friends at weekends because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. Getting that slice of youth again was something I definitely needed.
“Building a bit of self-belief by coming back and taking part in local football was huge for me. It was perhaps one of the most important factors that got me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced 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 get him in the team because he’s that good,” manager the coach commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an impressive start in men’s football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” said Scott. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in London, returned home and by 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 some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus the Hatters.
Scott went on to make 83 league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wing-back – and occasionally 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 ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at the club, stated last year.
Within 90 days after, he signed for the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the club, having to wait until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the team.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost four months.
“There was a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“It was almost another obstacle and it was shaping up as a pretty bad start for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, forming a strong understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season just as strongly for his club, playing in every game to help them to fifth in the standings.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my life,” Scott said recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for the game, improving every day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
