When Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
This statement proved to be a bit of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his first call-up to the senior England squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a true blast from the past, a journey seldom told in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, never mind featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team too,” Scott stated previously.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for me and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s path in football has been far from a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. The Cherries gave Scott an option and he remained with them for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.
Rather, he chose to stay on the island and play for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was starting to feel a bit too much,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my friends at weekends because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. Getting that little bit of childhood again was something I definitely required.
“To gain a bit of self-belief by returning and taking part in local 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, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager Tony Vance commented back then.
“People have witnessed 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 the Robins – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an promising beginning in men’s football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled Scott. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the second day I was with the first team, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
Within 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut versus Luton.
Scott went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the club while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he will represent his country and I think he’ll go on to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated previously.
Less than three months after, he joined Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
Scott experienced a challenging first season with the Cherries, waiting until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for nearly four months.
“There was a decent run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“It was almost another obstacle and it was turning out to be quite a terrible 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 in time.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” Scott said earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving every day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
