Back when Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That statement turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his first summons to the senior Three Lions squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a proper throwback, a journey rarely told in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, never mind playing in the Premier League and representing England too,” the player said previously.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for me and my family.”
But in what way did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Developing in non-league
His path in football has been far from a typical one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could train and play for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they released him. Bournemouth gave him an option 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 stay on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed nearly four and a half years of that experience. To have that slice of youth back was a thing I really needed.
“Building a bit of confidence by returning and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial factors 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 came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach commented back then.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his early progress after an impressive beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
Within 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against Luton.
Scott went on to make 83 league outings for the club while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I think he’ll play for England and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Within 90 days later, he signed for the Cherries for a understood fee of £25m.
Getting his major transfer
Scott endured a challenging first season with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the team.
His following season was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly four months.
“There was a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.
“That felt like almost another setback and it was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness for the tournament.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable understanding in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has started the current campaign equally as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to guide them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” the player stated recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, improving day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
