Back when Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
This prediction proved to be something of an underestimation.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his first summons to the full England squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a true throwback, a journey rarely seen in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, never mind playing in the Premier League and representing the national team too,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a incredible five or six years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for myself and my family.”
But how did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s football journey has not been a typical one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he opted to stay on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to relax at my home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of that experience. To have that little bit of childhood back was something I definitely needed.
“Building some confidence by coming back and playing local football was massive for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial things that got me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, the teenager became the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance stated back then.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring his development after an promising start in men’s football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said the player. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and by Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
Within a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus the Hatters.
Scott made 83 league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I think he will represent his country and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at the club, stated previously.
Less than three months later, he signed for the Cherries for a understood fee of £25m.
Getting his major transfer
Scott experienced a difficult 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 finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost four months.
“I had a decent run at the end of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and the year was shaping up as a pretty bad start for the first half.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, forming a formidable understanding in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the senior side under 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.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” the player said earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for the game, getting better every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”
