When Alex Scott made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his maiden summons to the full Three Lions squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a proper blast from the past, a journey seldom told in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, never mind playing in the Premier League and representing England too,” the player said previously.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for me and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up at this level?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and play for the club’s academy sides.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to stay on the island and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I had missed almost several years of that experience. To have that little bit of childhood back was a thing I really needed.
“Building some confidence by coming back and taking part in local football was huge for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial things that got me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his development after an promising start in men’s football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled Scott. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
In just 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against the Hatters.
He made 83 league appearances for the club while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s best young player award, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he’ll play for his country and I think he will progress to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at the club, remarked previously.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
The midfielder experienced a challenging first season with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the starting XI.
His following season was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“There was a decent run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like yet another setback and it was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, developing a formidable understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side with the national coach.
And he has started this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to guide them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, improving day on day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
