When Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
This prediction proved to be something of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first summons to the full Three Lions squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a true throwback, a story rarely seen in the modern era.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, never mind playing in the Premier League and playing for the national team as well,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for myself and my family.”
But in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?
Learning in non-league
His path in football has been far from a typical one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, however, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.
Instead, he chose to remain on the island and turn out for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that little bit of youth again was a thing I really needed.
“Building some confidence by returning and playing island football was massive for me. It was perhaps one of the most important things that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach commented back then.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an promising beginning in men’s football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said the player. “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 his local side in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
In just a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut versus the Hatters.
He made eighty-three league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
With his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s best young player honour, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he’ll play for England and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Within three months after, he joined the Cherries for a reported fee of £25m.
Getting his major transfer
Scott experienced a difficult first season with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for nearly four months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and it was shaping up as a pretty bad year for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness in time.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the senior side with the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the standings.
“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” the player stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying the game, improving day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
