Back when Alex Scott made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
This prediction proved to be something of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his maiden call-up to the full Three Lions team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a true blast from the past, a story rarely seen 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 too,” the player said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for myself and my family.”
But in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.
He was part of four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.
Instead, he opted to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at my home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that slice of youth again was a thing I definitely needed.
“Building some self-belief by returning and playing local football was huge for me. It was probably one of the most important factors that led me to this point.”
When he was just 16, the teenager made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their league match at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach stated back then.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Championship side Bristol City – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an impressive beginning in men’s football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.
“It was hectic,” said the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in London, returned home and by Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
Within 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut versus Luton.
Scott made eighty-three league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth 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 rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he will represent England and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Within 90 days after, he signed for the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his major transfer
The midfielder endured a challenging first season with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the team.
His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.
“I had quite a good run at the end of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.
“It was yet another setback and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable understanding in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season just as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to guide them to fifth in the standings.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special moments of my life,” the player stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for football, improving every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
