When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That prediction turned out to be something of an understatement.
Now aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his first summons to the full England squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a true throwback, a journey rarely seen in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and representing the national team too,” the player stated previously.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed completely for myself 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
Scott’s football journey has been far from a typical one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and play for the club’s academy sides.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. The Cherries gave Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he opted to remain on the island and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at home with my mates at weekends because I had missed almost four and a half years of doing that. Getting that slice of youth back was a thing I really needed.
“Building some confidence by returning and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial factors that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement in their league match at Phoenix Sports.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach commented back then.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking his early progress after an impressive beginning in adult football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled Scott. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and on the Friday, I played 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 well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against Luton.
Scott made eighty-three league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
Thanks to his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at the club, remarked last year.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.
Getting his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the team.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly four months.
“I had quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“It was almost another setback and it was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, developing a strong partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the first team with the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign just as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in every game to help them to fifth in the standings.
“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” Scott said recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
