Back when Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That statement turned out to be something of an understatement.
Now aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his maiden call-up to the senior Three Lions team.
His rise from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a proper throwback, a journey rarely seen in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing England too,” the player said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
But how did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s path in football has been far from a conventional one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he chose to remain on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at my home with my mates at weekends because I missed nearly several years of doing that. To have that little bit of childhood back was something I definitely required.
“Building some confidence by coming back and playing island football was massive for me. It was perhaps one of the most important things that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side Bristol City – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his early progress after an impressive beginning in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home 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 contract.”
Within 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus the Hatters.
Scott made eighty-three league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s best young player award, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at the club, remarked previously.
Less than 90 days later, he joined Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his major transfer
Scott endured a challenging first season with the Cherries, waiting until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for almost several months.
“I had a decent run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like almost another obstacle and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, forming a formidable partnership in midfield with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season just as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to guide them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” the player said recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
