When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That prediction proved to be a bit of an underestimation.
Now aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his maiden call-up to the senior England squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a proper blast from the past, a story seldom seen in the modern game.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, never mind featuring in the Premier League and playing for England too,” the player stated previously.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed drastically for myself and my family.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself here?
Developing 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 youth system from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his island home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and play for the club’s academy sides.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind was not in it.
Rather, he chose to stay on the island and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at my home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. Getting that slice of youth back was something I definitely needed.
“Building some confidence by returning and taking part in island football was massive for me. It was probably one of the most important things that got me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the professional game
Second-tier club the Robins – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s development after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled Scott. “The first day I joined the youth team, the second day I was with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
Within a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus the Hatters.
He made 83 league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s best young player award, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I believe he will represent England and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Within 90 days later, he joined the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for nearly four months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, forming a formidable partnership in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side with the national coach.
And he has started the current campaign equally as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in every game to guide them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” Scott said earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing 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.”
