When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That statement proved to be a bit of an underestimation.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his maiden summons to the full Three Lions squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a true blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern game.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing England too,” the player stated previously.
“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for myself and my family.”
But how did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Learning in the lower tiers
Scott’s path in football has not been a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he opted to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to relax at home with my mates at weekends because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. To have that little bit of youth back was a thing I definitely required.
“Building some self-belief by coming back and playing island football was massive for me. It was probably one of the most important things that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement in their league fixture at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager Tony Vance stated back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking his development after an promising beginning in adult football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled the player. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the second day I was with the first team, which was a complete shock.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
Within a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus Luton.
Scott went on to make eighty-three league outings for the club while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.
“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, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Less than three months after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the club, having to wait until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly four months.
“There was a decent run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained Scott.
“It was yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first half.”
But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in midfield with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side with the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign just as strongly for his club, featuring in every game to help them to the top five in the table.
“To play for the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” the player said recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for the game, getting better every day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
