Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That statement turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.
Now aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his maiden call-up to the full England team.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a proper throwback, a story rarely seen in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, let alone playing in the top division and representing the national team as well,” the player said in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for me and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?
Learning in non-league
His football journey has not been a conventional one.
He was part of four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he chose to remain on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was starting to feel a bit too much,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to chill at my home with my friends at the weekend because I missed nearly several years of that experience. Getting that little bit of childhood again was a thing I definitely required.
“Building some confidence by coming back and taking part in island football was massive for me. It was probably the most crucial factors that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute replacement 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 team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an promising start in adult football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“Midweek I played for his local side in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a deal.”
In just 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut versus the Hatters.
Scott made eighty-three league outings for the Robins while in his teens, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he will represent his country and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at the club, stated previously.
Within three months later, he joined the Cherries for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
Scott experienced a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the team.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for nearly several months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“It was almost another setback and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, forming a strong understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to guide them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” the player stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, improving every day, and with luck I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
