When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
That prediction proved to be something of an underestimation.
Now aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his first call-up to the senior England squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a true blast from the past, a journey rarely told in the modern game.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and playing for the national team too,” the player said in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
His path in football has not been a conventional one.
He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries gave him 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 turn out for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to chill at my home with my mates at the weekend because I missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that little bit of childhood again was something I definitely needed.
“To gain a bit of confidence by returning and taking part in local football was huge for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial factors that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach commented back then.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Championship side Bristol City – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an impressive beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled the player. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the next day I was with the first team, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty 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 went on to make eighty-three league outings for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
With his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Less than three months later, he joined the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
Scott endured a challenging first season with the club, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“There was a decent run at the end of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started the current campaign just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” Scott said earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
