Back when Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his first call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper blast from the past, a story rarely told in the modern game.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, let alone playing in the Premier League and representing England too,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for me and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s path in football has been far from a typical one.
He spent over four years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before he turned 13, though, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling every week was becoming a bit too much,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of doing that. Getting that slice of childhood again was a thing I definitely required.
“Building a bit of confidence by returning and playing local football was huge 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 league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” 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 pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side the Robins – chaired by islander their owner – had been monitoring his development after an promising start in men’s football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
In just 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut versus the Hatters.
He made eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, often being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
With his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player award, 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’m sure he will progress to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at the club, remarked previously.
Within three months after, he signed for the Cherries for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder endured a difficult debut campaign with the club, waiting until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost several months.
“I had quite a good run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.
“That felt like yet another setback and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad start for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness in time.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” the player said recently.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a player, keep enjoying the game, improving every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
