Back when Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
That statement proved to be something of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his maiden call-up to the full England team.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a proper throwback, a story seldom seen in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and representing the national team as well,” Scott stated previously.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed drastically for myself and my family.”
But how did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s football journey has been far from a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he opted to remain on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of doing that. Getting that little bit of childhood back was something I really required.
“To gain some self-belief by coming back and playing island football was massive for me. It was perhaps one of the most important factors that got me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, the teenager became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager Tony Vance commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Championship side Bristol City – owned by islander their owner – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said the player. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the next day I was with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in London, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
In just 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus the Hatters.
He made 83 league appearances for the club while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he’ll play for England and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s manager at the club, remarked previously.
Less than three months later, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
Scott endured a difficult debut campaign with the club, waiting 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 affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost several months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first half.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, developing a strong partnership in midfield with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season just as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
