Back when Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
That statement turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his maiden call-up to the full Three Lions squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a true throwback, a journey seldom told in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, never mind playing in the Premier League and representing England too,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my family.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Learning in non-league
His path in football has not been a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before he turned 13, however, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an option and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.
Rather, he chose to remain on the island and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost several years of doing that. Getting that slice of youth back was a thing I really needed.
“To gain some self-belief by returning and playing local football was massive for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important factors that led me to this point.”
When he was just 16, the teenager became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement 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 team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an promising start in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” said Scott. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
In just 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against Luton.
Scott made 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wing-back – and sometimes 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 rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for England and I think he will progress to the top of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.
Within 90 days after, he signed for the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the club, having to wait until the autumn to earn his top-flight 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 sidelined him for nearly four months.
“I had a decent run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“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 England for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable understanding in midfield with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the first team under the national coach.
And he has started this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the table.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special moments of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, maintain my love for football, improving every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
