When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That statement turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his first call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential international star is a proper throwback, a journey seldom told in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a professional football player, never mind playing in the top division and representing the national team as well,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It’s been a incredible five or six 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’, find himself here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ academy setup 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 attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. The Cherries gave him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he chose to remain on the island and play for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to chill at my home with my mates at weekends because I had missed almost several years of that experience. To have that slice of childhood back was something I really required.
“Building some confidence by coming back and taking part in island football was massive for me. It was perhaps one of the most important factors that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as 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 Phoenix Sports.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Championship side the Robins – owned by islander their owner – had been monitoring his development after an impressive beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“Midweek I played for his local side in London, travelled back and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
Within a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut versus Luton.
Scott went on to make 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
With his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and national team playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I think he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated previously.
Less than 90 days later, he joined Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his major transfer
The midfielder endured a difficult debut campaign with the club, waiting until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly four months.
“There was a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.
“That felt like almost another obstacle and it was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, forming a formidable partnership in the middle with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season equally as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to guide them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying the game, improving every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”
