When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
This statement turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his first summons to the senior England team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper throwback, a journey seldom seen in the modern era.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” the player stated previously.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for me and my family.”
So how did Alex Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?
Learning in non-league
His football journey has been far from a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he chose to stay on the island and play for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling every week was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at home with my friends at weekends because I missed almost several years of doing that. Getting that slice of childhood again was something I definitely required.
“Building some confidence by coming back and playing local football was huge for me. It was perhaps the most crucial factors that led me to this point.”
When he was just 16, Scott made history as the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Second-tier club the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an impressive start in adult football and arranged a trial in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” said Scott. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the second day I was with the first team, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. It was almost 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 making his first-team debut against Luton.
Scott went on to make 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.
With his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he will represent his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Within three months after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
The midfielder endured a difficult first season with the Cherries, having to wait until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“There was a decent run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“It was almost another obstacle and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first half.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, developing a strong understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season equally as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” the player stated recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and with luck I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
