Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That prediction proved to be something of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his first summons to the senior Three Lions team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a true throwback, a story rarely told in the modern game.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the Premier League and playing for England too,” the player said previously.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have changed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Learning in non-league
His football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his island home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to remain on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to chill at my home with my friends at weekends because I had missed almost four and a half years of doing that. Getting that little bit of childhood again was a thing I definitely needed.
“To gain a bit of self-belief by returning and playing local football was massive for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important factors that got me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half substitute in their league match at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring 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 exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an promising beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled the player. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
Within 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against Luton.
He made 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s best young player award, was selected in the league’s best XI and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at the club, stated previously.
Less than three months later, he joined Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a challenging first season with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being in and out of the team.
His following season was just as disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly four months.
“I had a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.
“It was yet another obstacle and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in the middle with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has started the current campaign just as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a player, maintain my love for football, improving day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
