When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That prediction proved to be something of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his maiden summons to the senior Three Lions squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a true throwback, a journey rarely told in the modern era.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the top division and representing England too,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed completely for myself and my family.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.
He was part of four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they released him. Bournemouth gave him an option and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind was not in it.
Rather, he chose to remain on the island and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at my home with my friends at the weekend because I missed nearly several years of that experience. Getting that slice of youth back was something I really required.
“Building a bit of confidence by returning and taking part in local football was massive for me. It was probably the most crucial factors that got me to this point.”
When he was just 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach stated back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an promising beginning in men’s football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
Within a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut versus Luton.
Scott went on to make 83 league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and England playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I think he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated previously.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for the Cherries for a understood fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
The midfielder endured a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as disrupted, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost several months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and it was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, forming a strong partnership in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season equally as strongly for his club, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a player, maintain my love for football, improving every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”
