Back when Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
This prediction proved to be something of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first summons to the full England team.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a proper blast from the past, a journey rarely seen in the modern game.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, never mind featuring in the top division and playing for England too,” Scott stated previously.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for me and my family.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself here?
Learning in non-league
His path in football has been far from a typical one.
He was part of four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.
Instead, he opted to remain on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was starting to feel a bit too much,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to chill at my home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed nearly four and a half years of that experience. To have that slice of youth again was something I definitely needed.
“Building a bit of confidence by returning and taking part in island football was huge for me. It was perhaps one of the most important factors that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the youngest player 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 get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated back then.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an impressive start in men’s football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled Scott. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the next day I was with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
In just 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus Luton.
Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the club while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was their best player.
With his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he will represent England and I think he will progress to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.
Less than three months later, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
Scott experienced a difficult first season with the club, having to wait until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost several months.
“I had a decent run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like almost another setback and it was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to regain fitness in time.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the first team under the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign just as impressively for his club, playing 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,” the player stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving day on day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
