Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
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 maiden call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a true throwback, a journey seldom seen in the modern game.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, never mind featuring in the top division and representing England as well,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for myself and my family.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has been far from a conventional one.
He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, skipping school every 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 released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an option and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.
Rather, he chose to remain on the island and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was starting to feel a bit too much,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my friends at weekends because I had missed almost several years of doing that. Getting that little bit of youth back was a thing I really needed.
“To gain some confidence by returning and taking part in local football was massive for me. It was perhaps the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, the teenager made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an promising start in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
Within 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against the Hatters.
He went on to make 83 league outings for the club while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I think he’ll play for his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, stated last year.
Within three months after, he signed for the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his big move
Scott experienced a challenging first season with the Cherries, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself in and out of the starting XI.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost four months.
“There was a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.
“It was almost another setback and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first half.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, developing a strong partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn 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, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a player, maintain my love for the game, improving every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
