When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
That statement turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his first call-up to the full Three Lions squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a proper blast from the past, a story seldom told in the modern game.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, never mind playing in the Premier League and playing for England as well,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for myself and my family.”
So how did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.
He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early every 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.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave Scott an option and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he chose to remain on the island and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at my home with my friends at weekends because I had missed almost several years of doing that. Getting that slice of childhood again was something I really required.
“Building some confidence by coming back and taking part in island football was huge for me. It was perhaps the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side Bristol City – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring his early progress after an promising start in men’s football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “The first day I joined the youth team, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus Luton.
Scott made 83 league outings for the club while in his teens, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I believe he will represent England and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at the club, remarked previously.
Less than 90 days after, he joined Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
The midfielder experienced a challenging first season with the Cherries, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was equally disrupted, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“I had quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.
“It was yet another obstacle and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first half.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, forming a formidable understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team under the national coach.
And he has started this season just as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in every game to guide them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special moments of my career,” the player said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
