Back when Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
This statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his maiden call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a proper blast from the past, a story seldom told in the modern game.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, let alone playing in the Premier League and playing for England too,” the player stated previously.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”
But how did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He spent over four years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before he turned 13, however, 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.
Rather, he chose to stay on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at my home with my mates at the weekend because I missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. Getting that slice of youth back was a thing I definitely required.
“Building a bit of confidence by returning and playing local football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial things that got me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute in their league match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated back then.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s development after an impressive beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus Luton.
Scott went on to make 83 league outings for the club while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
Thanks to his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s best young player award, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I believe he will represent England and I think he will progress to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated previously.
Less than three months later, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
Scott experienced a challenging debut campaign with the club, having to wait until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly several months.
“I had 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 the year was shaping up as a pretty bad year for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, forming a formidable partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the first team under the national coach.
And he has started the current campaign equally as impressively for his club, playing in every game to help them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special moments of my career,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for football, improving every day, and with luck I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
