When Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
That prediction turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his maiden summons to the full England team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a proper throwback, a story seldom seen in the modern game.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, never mind playing in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for me and my family.”
So in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s path in football has not been a conventional one.
He was part of 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 Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.
Instead, he opted to stay on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my friends at weekends because I missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that little bit of youth again was a thing I definitely needed.
“Building a bit of confidence by returning and taking part in local football was huge for me. It was probably one of the most important things that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated back then.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by islander their owner – had been tracking his development after an promising start in men’s football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” said Scott. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I played for his local side in London, returned home and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
In just a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against the Hatters.
He made eighty-three league appearances for the club while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season award, was selected in the league’s best XI and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he will represent his country and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s manager at the club, remarked last year.
Less than three months after, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported fee of £25m.
Getting his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a difficult first season with the club, waiting until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for nearly four months.
“I had a decent run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like almost another setback and it was shaping up as a pretty bad 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 Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, forming a formidable partnership in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season equally as strongly for his club, featuring in every game to guide them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” the player said recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
