When Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
That prediction proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his maiden call-up to the full England squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper throwback, a story rarely told in the modern game.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the Premier League and playing for the national team as well,” Scott said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my family.”
But how did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has not been a conventional one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries gave Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.
Instead, he opted to stay on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at my home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that slice of youth back was something I really required.
“To gain some confidence by returning and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial things that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance stated at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking his early progress after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
In just 18 months, even well before 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 deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
With his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and England playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was selected in the league’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he will represent England and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at the club, stated last year.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
The midfielder endured a difficult first season with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost several months.
“There was a decent run at the end of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.
“It was yet another obstacle and it was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season equally as strongly for his club, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
