From non-league all the way to national team call-up - who is ‘Guernsey Grealish’ Scott?

When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”

That statement proved to be something of an underestimation.

Now aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his first summons to the senior England team.

His rise from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a proper throwback, a journey seldom told in the modern era.

What’s next? A major tournament?

“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the Premier League and playing for England too,” the player said in a recent interview.

“It has been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for me and my family.”

But in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?

Learning in non-league

Scott’s path in football has been far from a conventional one.

He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.

Before he turned 13, however, they released him. The Cherries gave him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.

Instead, he chose to remain on the island and play for his hometown club.

“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was becoming a bit too much,” he recalled.

“All I desired to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I had missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that slice of childhood back was something I definitely needed.

“To gain a bit of confidence by coming back and playing local football was massive for me. It was perhaps the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”

At the age of 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 match at Phoenix Sports.

“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach stated back then.

“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”

Making a comeback to the professional game

Championship side Bristol City – chaired by islander their owner – had been tracking Scott’s development after an promising beginning in men’s football and arranged a trial in December 2019.

“It was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I was with the first team, which was a total surprise.

“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”

Within 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus Luton.

He went on to make 83 league outings for the club while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.

With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s best young player award, was selected in the division’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.

“Without question, I think he’ll play for his country and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.

Less than 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of £25m.

Securing his major transfer

The midfielder endured a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the starting XI.

His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly several months.

“There was a decent run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.

“It was yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first five months.”

But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness in time.

He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, forming a strong understanding in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team under the national coach.

And he has begun this season just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to help them to fifth in the table.

“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my life,” the player said earlier this season.

“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, getting better day on day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and get my chance.”