When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That prediction proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first call-up to the senior Three Lions team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a proper blast from the past, a story seldom seen in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a professional football player, never mind featuring in the Premier League and playing for the national team too,” the player stated previously.
“It has been a incredible five or six years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for myself and my family.”
So in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s football journey has not been a typical one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they released him. Bournemouth gave him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he opted to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling every week was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. To have that little bit of childhood back was a thing I definitely required.
“To gain some self-belief by returning and taking part in island football was huge for me. It was probably the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their league fixture at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an promising beginning in adult football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
Within a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus Luton.
Scott made 83 league outings for the club while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at the club, stated last year.
Within 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
The midfielder experienced a challenging first season with the Cherries, having to wait 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 disrupted, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“I had a decent run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.
“It was almost another setback and the year was shaping up as a pretty bad start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, developing a formidable partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to help them to the top five in the table.
“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” the player stated recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a player, maintain my love for football, getting better every day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
