Back when Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That prediction proved to be something of an understatement.
Now aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his first call-up to the full Three Lions team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a true throwback, a journey rarely told in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the top division and representing the national team too,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
So how did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
His path in football has not been a typical one.
He spent over four years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries gave him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.
Instead, he chose to stay on the island and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and traveling every week was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed almost four and a half years of doing that. Getting that little bit of youth again was a thing I definitely needed.
“Building some confidence by returning and taking part in island football was massive for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial factors that led me to this point.”
When he was just 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half substitute in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” manager the coach stated at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his early progress after an impressive beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled Scott. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against the Hatters.
He went on to make 83 league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – such was his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he will represent his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at the club, remarked last year.
Less than 90 days after, he joined the Cherries for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the club, having to wait until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was just as disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.
“I had quite a good run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained Scott.
“It was almost another setback and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness for the tournament.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable partnership in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team under the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign just as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to help them to the top five in the standings.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my career,” Scott said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
