When Alex Scott made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That prediction turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has just received his first call-up to the senior England squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential international star is a true throwback, a story seldom seen in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the Premier League and representing England as well,” the player said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?
Learning in non-league
His path in football has been far from a conventional one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Prior to he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.
Rather, he opted to stay on the island and play for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at my home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. To have that slice of childhood again was something I really required.
“Building a bit of confidence by returning and playing local football was massive for me. It was probably one of the most important factors that led me to this point.”
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 substitute in their league match at the opposition.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated back then.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an impressive start in men’s football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled Scott. “Day one I joined the youth team, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
Within 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus the Hatters.
He made eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, often being used as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at the club, remarked previously.
Within 90 days after, he joined Bournemouth for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the team.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for almost several months.
“I had quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained Scott.
“It was almost another obstacle and it was shaping up as a pretty bad year for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, forming a formidable understanding in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has begun this season equally as strongly for his club, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” Scott said recently.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
