When Alex Scott made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That statement turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, 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 true blast from the past, a story rarely told in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, let alone playing in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for myself and my family.”
So how did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s football journey has not been a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he opted to stay on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was starting to feel a bit too much,” he recalled.
“All I desired to chill at home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. Getting that slice of childhood back was something I really required.
“To gain some self-belief by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. It was perhaps the most crucial factors that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen 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 the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an promising start in adult football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
Within a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus Luton.
Scott made 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.
Thanks to his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was selected in the league’s best XI and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I think he will represent his country and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Within 90 days later, he joined Bournemouth for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
Scott experienced a challenging debut campaign with the club, having to wait until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost four months.
“I had a decent run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like yet another setback and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to 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 strong understanding in the middle with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team under the national coach.
And he has begun this season just as impressively for his club, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the standings.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” Scott said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and with luck I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
