When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That statement turned out to be a bit of an understatement.
Now aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his maiden call-up to the senior England squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper throwback, a story seldom seen in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and representing England too,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a incredible five or six years of my life, and things have changed drastically for myself and my family.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?
Developing in non-league
His football journey has been far from a typical one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his island home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind was not in it.
Instead, he opted to stay on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I missed almost four and a half years of doing that. Getting that little bit of youth again was something I really required.
“Building a bit of self-belief by coming back and playing island football was massive for me. It was perhaps one of the most important things that led me to this point.”
When he was just 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – chaired by islander their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an promising start in men’s football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” said the player. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.
“Midweek I featured for his local side in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
Within a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut versus Luton.
He made eighty-three league outings for the club while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was named 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 top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at the club, stated last year.
Within 90 days later, he joined the Cherries for a reported fee of £25m.
Getting his major transfer
Scott endured a difficult first season with the club, having to wait until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, 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 end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“It was almost another setback and it was turning out to be a pretty bad start 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 started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, forming a strong understanding in midfield with his teammate, who himself 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 standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
