When Alex Scott made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
This prediction proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his maiden call-up to the full Three Lions team.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a proper throwback, a story seldom seen in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind playing in the Premier League and playing for England as well,” the player said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my family.”
So in what way did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Learning in the lower tiers
Scott’s football journey has not been a typical one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, however, they released him. The Cherries gave him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to remain on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling every week was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I missed almost several years of that experience. To have that slice of youth again was a thing I really needed.
“To gain some self-belief by returning and playing local football was massive for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important things that got me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, the teenager made history as the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their league fixture at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach stated at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an impressive start in men’s football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled Scott. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the next day I was with the first team, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
In just a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut versus the Hatters.
Scott went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the club while in his teens, often being used as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – such was his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s best young player award, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for England and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated previously.
Less than 90 days after, he joined Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder endured a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation 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 broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“It was yet another obstacle and it 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 started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a formidable understanding in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team under the national coach.
And he has begun this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the table.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special moments of my life,” Scott stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and with luck I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
