Back when Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That prediction proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his maiden summons to the senior Three Lions squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential international star is a true blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern game.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, let alone playing in the Premier League and representing England as well,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
So how did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Learning in the lower tiers
His path in football has been far from a typical one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his island home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to remain on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost several years of doing that. To have that little bit of youth again was a thing I really required.
“To gain a bit of self-belief by returning and playing local football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important things that got me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” manager the coach commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an impressive beginning in men’s football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I played for his local side in London, returned home and by Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus the Hatters.
Scott went on to make 83 league appearances for the club while in his teens, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – such was his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and England playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player award, was selected in the division’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I think he will represent his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at the club, stated previously.
Within 90 days after, he joined the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a challenging debut campaign with the club, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost four months.
“I had a decent run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained Scott.
“It was almost another setback and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad start for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, forming a strong understanding in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to guide them to the top five in the standings.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” Scott stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
