When Alex Scott made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
This statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his maiden summons to the full England squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper blast from the past, a story seldom 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 Premier League and representing the national team as well,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s football journey has not been a conventional one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his island home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, though, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an option and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he chose to stay on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I had missed almost four and a half years of doing that. To have that little bit of childhood again was something I definitely required.
“Building a bit of confidence by coming back and playing local football was massive for me. It was probably the most crucial things that led me to this point.”
When he was just 16, Scott made history as the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his development after an impressive beginning in men’s football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled the player. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus Luton.
Scott made 83 league outings for the Robins while in his teens, often being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Within three months after, he joined Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
The midfielder endured a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost four months.
“There was quite a good 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 setback and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in the middle with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has started this season just as strongly for his club, featuring in all matches to help them to the top five in the table.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special moments of my life,” the player stated recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying the game, improving every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”
