Back when Alex Scott made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
This statement turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his maiden summons to the senior Three Lions squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a proper blast from the past, a journey rarely told in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and representing England as well,” the player said previously.
“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for me and my loved ones.”
So how did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has not been a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ youth system 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 play for the club’s academy sides.
Before he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave Scott 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.
Rather, he chose to stay on the island and play for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of that experience. Getting that slice of childhood back was something I definitely needed.
“Building a bit of self-belief by coming back and taking part in local football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important things that led me to this point.”
When he was just 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance stated at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side Bristol City – owned by islander their owner – had been tracking his early progress after an promising start in men’s football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” said Scott. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus Luton.
Scott made 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 – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
With his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I think he will represent England and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Within 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
Scott endured a difficult debut campaign with the club, waiting until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the team.
His following season was just as disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost several months.
“I had quite a good run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.
“It was yet another obstacle and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, forming a strong understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team with the national coach.
And he has started the current campaign just as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring 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 career,” Scott said earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”
