When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
This statement proved to be something of an understatement.
Now aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his first summons to the senior England squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a proper blast from the past, a story rarely told in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, let alone playing in the Premier League and representing England too,” the player said in a recent interview.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed completely for me and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s football journey has not been a typical one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, however, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.
Instead, he chose to remain on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to relax at home with my friends at weekends because I had missed almost four and a half years of that experience. Getting that slice of youth back was something I really needed.
“Building a bit of confidence by coming back and playing island football was massive for me. It was perhaps the most crucial 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 57th-minute substitute in their league match at the opposition.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights 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 back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an impressive start in men’s football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “The first day I joined the youth team, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a complete shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a contract.”
Within 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus Luton.
Scott made 83 league outings for the Robins while in his teens, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was their best player.
Thanks to his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season award, was selected in the division’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I think he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated previously.
Less than 90 days later, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
Scott experienced a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn 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 equally affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“There was a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like yet another setback and the year was shaping up as 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 in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, developing a formidable partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team with the national coach.
And he has begun this season just as strongly for his club, featuring in every game to guide them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special moments of my life,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better every day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
