Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
This prediction turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his first summons to the full Three Lions squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a proper blast from the past, a journey seldom seen in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, let alone playing in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my family.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?
Developing in non-league
His path in football has been far from a typical one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and play for the club’s academy sides.
Before he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he chose to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at my home with my mates at weekends because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. To have that slice of youth back was something I definitely needed.
“Building some confidence by returning and playing local football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important things that led me to this point.”
When he was just 16, Scott became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement in their league match at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an impressive beginning in men’s football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a complete shock.
“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
In just 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut versus Luton.
He made 83 league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – such was his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was their best player.
With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team playmaker Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was voted the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he will represent England and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, stated previously.
Less than 90 days after, he joined Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his major transfer
Scott experienced a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost several months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.
“It was yet another obstacle and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, forming a strong understanding in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team under the national coach.
And he has started the current campaign just as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in every game to guide them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
