When Alex Scott made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
This statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his maiden call-up to the senior England squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a true blast from the past, a journey seldom told in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the top division and representing England too,” Scott stated previously.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for myself and my family.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, however, they released him. The Cherries gave him an option and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.
Instead, he chose to remain on the island and play for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling every week was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to relax at my home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost several years of doing that. Getting that slice of youth again was a thing I really required.
“To gain a bit of confidence by returning and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, Scott made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half substitute in their league match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager Tony Vance stated at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an impressive beginning in men’s football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” said Scott. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the next day I was with the first team, which was a complete shock.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to sign a deal.”
In just a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut versus the Hatters.
Scott went on to make 83 league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I think he’ll play for England and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at the club, remarked previously.
Less than 90 days after, he joined the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
Scott endured a difficult first season with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.
“I had quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected 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 Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, forming a formidable understanding in midfield with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season just as strongly for his club, playing in every game to help them to the top five in the table.
“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” the player stated recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a player, maintain my love for the game, getting better every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
