When the young midfielder made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That prediction proved to be something of an underestimation.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his first summons to the full England team.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential international star is a proper blast from the past, a journey 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, let alone featuring in the Premier League and playing for England too,” the player stated previously.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed 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?
Developing in non-league
His path in football has been far from a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, however, 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 heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling every week was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to relax at my home with my mates at weekends because I missed nearly four and a half years of that experience. To have that slice of youth back was a thing I definitely required.
“To gain some confidence by returning and playing local football was massive for me. It was perhaps the most crucial things that led me to this point.”
When he was just 16, Scott became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach stated at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side Bristol City – owned by islander their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an promising beginning in men’s football and arranged a trial in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled the player. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“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 scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a contract.”
In just a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against Luton.
Scott went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the club while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.
Thanks to his ability to drive 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 playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was voted the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I think he’ll play for England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at the club, remarked last year.
Less than three months after, he joined the Cherries for a understood fee of £25m.
Getting his major transfer
Scott endured a difficult debut campaign with the club, waiting 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 equally affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“There was a decent run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“It was almost another setback and it was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first half.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, developing a strong understanding in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to guide them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” the player stated recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, improving day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
