Back when Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
This statement turned out to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his maiden summons to the full England team.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a true blast from the past, a journey rarely seen in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, let alone playing in the Premier League and playing for the national team too,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have transformed completely for myself and my family.”
So in what way did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Developing in the lower tiers
His path in football has been far from a typical one.
He was part of four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.
Rather, he opted to stay on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.
“All I desired to chill at home with my friends at weekends because I had missed almost several years of that experience. To have that little bit of youth again was a thing I really needed.
“To gain a bit of self-belief by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. It was perhaps one of the most important factors that got me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, the teenager made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian 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,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated back then.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Second-tier club the Robins – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an promising beginning in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled Scott. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
Within 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut versus Luton.
He went on to make 83 league outings for the club while in his teens, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s best young player award, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was voted the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, the player’s boss at the club, stated last year.
Less than 90 days later, he joined the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
Scott experienced a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost several months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.
“It was almost another obstacle and it was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, developing a formidable understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season just as impressively for his club, playing in every game to guide them to the top five in the standings.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special moments of my career,” Scott said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, improving day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
