Back when Alex Scott made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That statement turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his first call-up to the full Three Lions team.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a proper throwback, a story rarely told in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the top division and representing England too,” Scott said previously.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for me and my family.”
But how did Alex Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up at this level?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Prior to he turned 13, though, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books 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.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. Getting that slice of youth back was a thing I definitely needed.
“Building a bit of self-belief by returning and taking part in island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important factors that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half substitute 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 he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an promising start in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled Scott. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a complete shock.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
Within 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus Luton.
Scott made 83 league outings for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I believe he will represent his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, stated previously.
Within 90 days after, he joined Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.
Getting his major transfer
Scott endured a challenging debut campaign with the club, waiting until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of last season, 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 half.”
But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, forming a strong understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the senior side with the national coach.
And he has started this season just as impressively for his club, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the standings.
“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my career,” the player stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, improving every day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
