When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
This statement proved to be something of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his maiden call-up to the full England team.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a true throwback, a story seldom seen in the modern era.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, never mind featuring in the Premier League and representing England as well,” the player stated previously.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for myself and my family.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Developing in non-league
His path in football has not been a typical one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.
Instead, he opted to stay on the island and turn out for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to relax at my home with my friends at weekends because I had missed almost several years of doing that. To have that slice of youth again was a thing I really required.
“To gain some self-belief by returning and playing island football was massive for me. It was probably the most crucial things that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his possession 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 the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking his development after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled the player. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
Within a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against the Hatters.
He made 83 league appearances for the club while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was their best player.
With his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and national team playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was selected in the division’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“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 boss at the club, stated previously.
Within three months later, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
The midfielder endured a challenging debut campaign with the club, 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 starting XI.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“There was a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“It was yet another obstacle and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team under the national coach.
And he has begun this season just as strongly for his club, featuring in every game to help them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” the player said recently.
“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for the game, getting better day on day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
