Back when Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That statement turned out to be something of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his first summons to the full Three Lions squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a true throwback, a story rarely seen in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, let alone playing in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
But how did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s football journey has been far from a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an option and he remained with them for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.
Instead, he chose to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of that experience. To have that slice of youth back was a thing I definitely needed.
“To gain some confidence by coming back and taking part in local football was massive for me. It was perhaps one of the most important things that led me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their league match at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an impressive start in men’s football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled the player. “Day one I trained with 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 London, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
Within 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus the Hatters.
He made 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wide defender – and occasionally 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 skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Within three months later, he signed for the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his major transfer
Scott endured a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the team.
His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost four months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“It was yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, developing a formidable understanding in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team with the national coach.
And he has started this season just as strongly for his club, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my life,” the player stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying the game, getting better every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”
