Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That statement turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his maiden summons to the senior Three Lions squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a true throwback, a journey rarely told in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, let alone playing in the top division and representing England too,” the player said previously.
“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s football journey has been far from a typical one.
He was part of over four 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, however, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he chose to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at home with my friends at weekends because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. Getting that little bit of childhood back was something I really required.
“Building a bit of self-belief by returning and playing local football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial things that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – owned by islander their owner – had been monitoring his development after an promising start in men’s football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled Scott. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the second day I was with the first team, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus the Hatters.
He went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the club 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 playing out of position he was their best player.
With 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 City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he will represent his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.
Within 90 days later, he joined the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
Scott experienced a difficult first season with the Cherries, 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 team.
His following season was just as disrupted, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for almost four months.
“There was a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like almost another setback and the year was shaping up as a pretty bad year for the first half.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to regain fitness in time.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, developing a strong understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started the current campaign equally as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying the game, improving every day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
