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 prediction turned out to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his maiden call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper throwback, a story rarely seen in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, let alone playing in the Premier League and playing for England as well,” the player said previously.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for myself and my family.”
But in what way did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s football journey has not been a conventional one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before he turned 13, however, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he opted to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost several years of doing that. Getting that slice of youth back was something I really needed.
“To gain a bit of self-belief by returning and taking part in local football was huge for me. It was perhaps one of the most important factors that got me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Second-tier club the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s development after an impressive beginning in men’s football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.
“It was hectic,” said Scott. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the second day I was with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
Within 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus the Hatters.
He went on to make 83 league outings for the club while in his teens, frequently being used as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – such was his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
With his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.
Less than three months after, he joined Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly several months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.
“It was almost another setback and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a formidable understanding in the middle with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my career,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, getting better day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”
