Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That statement proved to be something of an underestimation.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his first call-up to the full England team.
His rise from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a true blast from the past, a journey rarely seen in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, let alone featuring in the top division and playing for the national team too,” the player said previously.
“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?
Learning in non-league
His path in football has been far from a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, however, they released him. Bournemouth gave him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he chose to stay on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was starting to feel a bit too much,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed almost several years of doing that. Getting that slice of youth again was a thing I definitely needed.
“To gain some self-belief by coming back and taking part in island football was massive for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his development after an promising beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled the player. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
Within 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against the Hatters.
He made 83 league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, often being used as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. 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 earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player honour, was selected in the league’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he’ll play for England and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated previously.
Less than 90 days later, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
Scott experienced a difficult first season with the Cherries, having to wait until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost several months.
“I had a decent run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained Scott.
“It was almost another obstacle and it was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first half.”
But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, forming a formidable understanding in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has started the current campaign just as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to help them to the top five in the standings.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” Scott stated recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, maintain my love for football, getting better every day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
