When Alex Scott made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
This prediction turned out to be something of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his first summons to the full England team.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a true throwback, a journey seldom seen in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a professional football player, let alone playing in the top division and representing the national team as well,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for myself and my family.”
But how did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they released him. Bournemouth gave Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to remain on the island and play for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling every week was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed nearly four and a half years of that experience. Getting that slice of childhood back was something I really required.
“To gain a bit of confidence by coming back and taking part in island football was huge for me. It was perhaps the most crucial factors that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a 57th-minute replacement in their league fixture at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” 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 pro ranks
Championship side Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an promising beginning in adult football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a complete shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC 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 put pen to paper on a deal.”
In just 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against the Hatters.
He made 83 league outings for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he’ll play for England and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at the club, stated previously.
Less than three months later, he joined the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his big move
The midfielder endured a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then finding himself 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 four months.
“I had a decent run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like almost another setback and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, developing a formidable understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun the current campaign just as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to guide them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving every day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
