Rising from non-league to national team selection - who is ‘Guernsey Grealish’ Scott?

Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”

That prediction proved to be something of an underestimation.

Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his maiden call-up to the senior England team.

His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a proper throwback, a story seldom told in the modern game.

What’s next? A major tournament?

“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, let alone featuring in the top division and playing for England too,” Scott stated in a recent interview.

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

So in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?

Learning in the lower tiers

His football journey has been far from a conventional one.

He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early 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.

Before his 13th birthday, though, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an option and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.

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

“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.

“All I desired to relax at my home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that slice of childhood again was something I really required.

“Building a bit of confidence by returning and taking part in island football was massive for me. It was perhaps one of the most important things that got me where I am today.”

When he was just 16, the teenager made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.

“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated back then.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the way he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”

Making a comeback to the pro ranks

Championship side the Robins – chaired by islander their owner – had been tracking Scott’s development after an promising start in adult football and gave him a trial in December 2019.

“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.

“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in London, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”

In just 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against Luton.

Scott went on to make 83 league appearances for the club while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.

Thanks to his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“No doubt, I believe he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated previously.

Less than 90 days later, he joined Bournemouth for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.

Getting his big move

The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the team.

His following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.

“There was a decent run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.

“That felt like yet another setback and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first half.”

But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.

He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, forming a formidable partnership in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the senior side with the national coach.

And he has started this season just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to guide them to fifth in the table.

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

“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and with luck I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”