When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
This statement proved to be something of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his first call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a proper blast from the past, a journey seldom told in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a professional football player, never mind featuring in the top division and representing England as well,” the player said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.
He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. The Cherries 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 opted to stay on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at my home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. To have that little bit of youth again was a thing I definitely required.
“Building a bit of self-belief by coming back and taking part in local 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, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute replacement in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” manager the coach stated back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an promising beginning in adult football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled the player. “The first day I joined the youth team, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
In just a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against the Hatters.
Scott made eighty-three league outings for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s best young player award, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he will represent England and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at the club, stated last year.
Less than 90 days after, he joined Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the club, waiting until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the team.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“I had quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“It was yet another obstacle and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, developing a formidable partnership in midfield with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season just as impressively for his club, playing in all matches to guide them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special moments of my career,” the player said recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, improving every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
