Back when Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
This statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Now aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his maiden summons to the senior England squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a true blast from the past, a story seldom told in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the top division and representing the national team as well,” Scott stated previously.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for me and my family.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has been far from a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, however, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an option and he remained with them for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.
Instead, he chose to remain on the island and turn out 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 home with my friends at the weekend because I missed nearly four and a half years of that experience. Getting that slice of childhood back was a thing I definitely required.
“Building some self-belief by returning and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important factors that got me to this point.”
When he was just 16, Scott became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Second-tier club the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an impressive start in men’s football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in London, returned home 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.”
Within a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against Luton.
Scott went on to make 83 league outings for the Robins while in his teens, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the division’s best XI and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Within 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
Scott endured a difficult debut campaign 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 following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly several months.
“I had a decent run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, developing a formidable partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season just as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to guide them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my career,” Scott said earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
