Back when Alex Scott made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
This statement turned out to be a bit of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his first call-up to the full Three Lions team.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a proper blast from the past, a story seldom seen in the modern era.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” the player said previously.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for me and my family.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself here?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s football journey has been far from a typical one.
He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind was not in it.
Instead, he chose to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to relax at my home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of doing that. Getting that little bit of youth again was a thing I definitely required.
“To gain some confidence by returning and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial factors that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach stated at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his retention 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 promising start in men’s football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled Scott. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
Within a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus the Hatters.
Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Jack 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.
“No doubt, I believe he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Less than three months later, he joined Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
The midfielder experienced a difficult first season with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being in and out of the team.
His second campaign was just as disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“It was almost another obstacle and the year was shaping up as a pretty bad year for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, developing a formidable understanding in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the senior side with the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as impressively for his club, featuring in all matches to guide them to the top five in the standings.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special moments of my life,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, improving day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
