When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
This statement turned out to be something of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his first summons to the senior Three Lions squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential international star is a proper blast from the past, a journey rarely seen in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” the player stated previously.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.
He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave Scott 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 the island and play for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I missed nearly several years of doing that. To have that slice of childhood again was a thing I definitely needed.
“To gain a bit of self-belief by coming back and taking part in local football was massive for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important things that led me to this point.”
When he was just 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” manager 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.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – chaired by islander their owner – had been tracking Scott’s development after an promising start in adult football and arranged a trial in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
Within 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against the Hatters.
Scott went on to make 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 – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
Thanks to his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I believe he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, the player’s manager at the club, remarked last year.
Less than three months later, he signed for the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his big move
The midfielder endured a challenging first season with the club, having to wait until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being in and out of the team.
His following season was just as disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.
“I had quite a good run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.
“It was yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be a pretty bad start for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, developing a strong partnership in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season just as strongly for his club, featuring in every game to guide them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special moments of my life,” the player stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving day on day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
