Back when Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
This statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his maiden summons to the full England team.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a proper blast from the past, a journey rarely told in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, never mind playing in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for me and my family.”
So how did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Learning in non-league
His football journey has not been a typical one.
He spent over four years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he chose to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at my home with my friends at the weekend because I missed nearly several years of that experience. Getting that little bit of youth again was something I definitely needed.
“Building some self-belief by coming back and playing local football was huge for me. It was perhaps the most crucial things that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their league fixture at the opposition.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach stated at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an impressive start in men’s football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the second day I was with the first team, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
Within 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against the Hatters.
Scott went on to make eighty-three league outings for the club while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. 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 down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was voted the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I think he’ll play for England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
The midfielder endured a challenging debut campaign 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 team.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost several months.
“There was a decent run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“It was yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, forming a formidable understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started the current campaign just as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in every game to help them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my career,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and with luck I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
