Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
That statement turned out to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has just received his first summons to the full Three Lions squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a proper blast from the past, a story rarely told in the modern game.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the top division and playing for England as well,” the player said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have changed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s football journey has not been a conventional one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.
Rather, he opted to stay on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost several years of doing that. Getting that little bit of youth back was a thing I definitely needed.
“Building a bit of self-belief by returning and taking part in local football was huge for me. It was probably one of the most important things that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an promising beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled Scott. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the next day I was with the first team, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a deal.”
In just a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against the Hatters.
He went on to make eighty-three league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at the club, remarked previously.
Within three months later, he joined Bournemouth for a reported fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
The midfielder endured a difficult first season with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being in and out of the team.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“I had quite a good run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke 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 selected by the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, developing a strong understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has begun this season just as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to guide them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” the player 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 hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
