Back when Alex Scott made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That statement proved to be a bit of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first summons to the full England team.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a proper blast from the past, a journey seldom told in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, let alone playing in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for me and my family.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his island home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer him an option and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he chose to remain on the island and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling every week was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that slice of childhood back was something I definitely required.
“Building a bit of self-belief by returning and playing island football was huge for me. It was perhaps 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 was introduced as a second-half substitute in their league match at Phoenix Sports.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance commented back then.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his early progress after an promising beginning in men’s football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled the player. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against the Hatters.
Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the club while in his teens, often being used as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward 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 down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and England playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was selected in the division’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he’ll play for England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, stated last year.
Less than three months later, he joined Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
Scott experienced a challenging first season with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost several months.
“I had quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.
“It was almost another obstacle and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, developing a strong partnership in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started the current campaign just as impressively for his club, playing in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, improving day on day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
