When Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
This statement turned out to be something of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his maiden call-up to the senior Three Lions team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a true throwback, a story seldom seen in the modern game.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and representing the national team as well,” Scott said in a recent interview.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for me and my family.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s football journey has not been a typical one.
He spent over four years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave Scott an opportunity 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.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling weekly was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my friends at weekends because I had missed nearly several years of doing that. Getting that slice of childhood back was a thing I definitely required.
“Building a bit of self-belief by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important things that got me to this point.”
When he was just 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” manager the coach stated at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries 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 monitoring Scott’s development after an impressive beginning in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled the player. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a complete shock.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
In just a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus the Hatters.
Scott made eighty-three league outings for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s best young player honour, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at the club, remarked last year.
Less than 90 days later, he joined Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
The midfielder experienced a difficult first season with the club, having to wait until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost several months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“It was yet another setback and it was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first half.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, forming a formidable understanding in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season just as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to guide them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” the player said recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better every day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
