When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That statement turned out to be something of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first call-up to the senior England squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a true blast from the past, a journey rarely told in the modern era.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, never mind playing in the top division and playing for England too,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for me and my family.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
His path in football has not been a conventional one.
He spent over four years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before he turned 13, though, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an option and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he chose to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at home with my friends at weekends because I had missed nearly several years of doing that. Getting that little bit of youth again was a thing I really required.
“To gain a bit of confidence by coming back and taking part in local football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important things that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach stated at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the professional game
Second-tier club the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“It was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in London, returned home and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
Within a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus the Hatters.
He went on to make 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and national team playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he’ll play for his country and I think he will progress to the top of the game,” his former manager, the player’s manager at the club, stated previously.
Within three months later, he signed for the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
Scott experienced a challenging first season with the Cherries, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.
“It was yet another setback and it was shaping up as a pretty bad start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, forming a strong understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has started this season just as impressively for his club, playing in every game to guide them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” the player stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a player, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”
