When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
This statement turned out to be something of an understatement.
Now aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his first call-up to the full Three Lions squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a true blast from the past, a journey rarely seen in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing England too,” Scott said previously.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed drastically for me and my family.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up at this level?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his island home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave him 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 chose to remain on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling every week was becoming a bit too much,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost several years of doing that. To have that slice of childhood again was a thing I definitely required.
“Building a bit of confidence by returning and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial factors that led 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 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach stated at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his early progress after an impressive beginning in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled the player. “The first day I joined the youth team, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.
“Midweek I featured for his local side in London, 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 contract.”
Within a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus the Hatters.
He made eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
Thanks to his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.
Within three months later, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
Scott endured a difficult first season with the Cherries, waiting until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as disrupted, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“It was yet another obstacle and it 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 succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, forming a strong partnership in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the senior side with the national coach.
And he has started the current campaign equally as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the standings.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special moments of my career,” Scott said earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”
