When Alex Scott made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That prediction proved to be something of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first call-up to the full England squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper throwback, a journey rarely seen in the modern era.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a professional football player, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” Scott stated previously.
“It has been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for myself and my family.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?
Developing in non-league
His path in football has been far from a conventional one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and play for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, 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 while, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he opted to stay on the island and play for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at home with my friends at weekends because I had missed nearly several years of doing that. To have that slice of youth back was something I definitely needed.
“Building a bit of confidence by coming back and taking part in local football was huge for me. It was perhaps the most crucial things that got me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an promising beginning in adult football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled the player. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a contract.”
In just 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus Luton.
Scott made 83 league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.
With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and England playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated previously.
Within three months after, he joined Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder endured a difficult first season with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the team.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.
“I had quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“That felt like almost another obstacle and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a strong partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team under the national coach.
And he has started this season just as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to help them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” the player said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, improving day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
