When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager 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 midfielder has earned his first call-up to the senior England team.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a proper blast from the past, a journey rarely told in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, never mind playing in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” the player said previously.
“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for myself and my family.”
But how did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?
Developing in non-league
His path in football has not been a conventional one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he chose to stay on the island and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I missed almost four and a half years of that experience. To have that little bit of childhood again was something I really required.
“To gain a bit of self-belief by coming back and taking part in island football was huge for me. It was probably the most crucial things that got me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Second-tier club the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an promising beginning in men’s football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” said the player. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a contract.”
In just 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against the Hatters.
Scott went on to make 83 league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for England and I think he will progress to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Within 90 days later, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
Scott endured a challenging first season with the club, having to wait until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost four months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and the year was shaping up as 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 get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, developing a formidable understanding in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team with the national coach.
And he has begun this season just as impressively for his club, playing in all matches to guide them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” the player stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
