Back when Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
That statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his first call-up to the full Three Lions team.
His rise from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a proper throwback, a journey rarely told in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, let alone featuring in the Premier League and playing for England as well,” the player stated previously.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for myself and my family.”
So in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Developing 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 island home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and play for the club’s academy sides.
Prior to he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an option and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he chose to remain on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at home with my mates at weekends because I had missed almost four and a half years of doing that. Getting that slice of youth back was something I really required.
“Building some self-belief by returning and playing local football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important things that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their league fixture at the opposition.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side 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 carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his early progress after an impressive beginning in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled Scott. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.
“Midweek I featured for his local side in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to sign a contract.”
In just 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus the Hatters.
He went on to make 83 league appearances for the club while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.
Thanks to his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Within 90 days after, he joined the Cherries for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his big move
The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself in and out of the starting XI.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for nearly four months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“It was yet another obstacle and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, developing a strong understanding in midfield with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has started this season just as strongly for his club, playing in all matches to guide them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my career,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
