When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
This prediction turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his maiden call-up to the full Three Lions squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a true blast from the past, a story seldom seen in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the Premier League and playing for England too,” the player stated previously.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
His football journey has been far from a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, though, they released him. Bournemouth gave him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.
Instead, he opted to remain on the island and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to relax at home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of doing that. Getting that slice of childhood back was something I really required.
“Building a bit of self-belief by returning and taking part in local football was massive for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important things that got me to this point.”
When he was just 16, Scott became the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an promising start in adult football and arranged a trial in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” said Scott. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to sign a deal.”
Within a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut versus the Hatters.
He went on to make 83 league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.
Thanks to his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s best XI and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I believe he will represent his country and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at the club, remarked previously.
Within three months after, he signed for the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
The midfielder endured a difficult first season with the club, having to wait until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for almost several months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“It was almost another setback and it was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first half.”
But he was then called up 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 went on to win the competition in Slovakia, forming a strong understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has started this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to the top five in the standings.
“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
