When Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That statement proved to be something of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first call-up to the senior England squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a proper blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern game.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing England too,” Scott said previously.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before he turned 13, though, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to remain on the island and turn out for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I missed almost four and a half years of that experience. To have that little bit of youth again was something I really required.
“Building a bit of confidence by returning and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial factors that led me to this point.”
When he was just 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half replacement in their league fixture at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager Tony Vance stated back then.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by islander their owner – had been monitoring his early progress after an impressive beginning in adult football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled Scott. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
Within 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus the Hatters.
Scott made eighty-three league outings for the club while in his teens, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.
Less than three months later, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his major transfer
Scott experienced a challenging first season with the club, waiting until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost several months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“That felt like almost another obstacle and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started the current campaign equally as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in every game to guide them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special moments of my career,” the player said recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, getting better every day, and with luck I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
