Back when Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That statement proved to be something of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has just received his first call-up to the full Three Lions squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a true blast from the past, a story seldom seen in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a professional football player, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing England as well,” Scott said previously.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
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 not been a conventional one.
He spent over four years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, however, they released him. The Cherries gave him an opportunity and he remained with them for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.
Rather, he chose to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling every week was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my friends at weekends because I missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that slice of youth back was a thing I definitely required.
“To gain some self-belief by returning and taking part in local football was massive for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important things that got me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an impressive start in men’s football and arranged a trial in late 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” said the player. “The first day I joined the youth team, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in London, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a contract.”
Within a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against the Hatters.
He made 83 league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at the club, remarked previously.
Within three months later, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
Scott experienced a difficult debut campaign with the club, having to wait until October 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 just as affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“I had a decent run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team under the national coach.
And he has begun this season equally as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” 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.”
