When the young midfielder made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
This prediction turned out to be a bit of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first summons to the full Three Lions team.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a proper blast from the past, a journey rarely told in the modern era.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, never mind playing in the Premier League and representing England too,” the player stated previously.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
But how did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself here?
Developing in non-league
Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, however, they released him. Bournemouth gave him an opportunity 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 the island and turn out for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was starting to feel a bit too much,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that slice of youth back was something I really needed.
“Building some self-belief by coming back and taking part in local football was huge for me. It was probably 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 Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their league fixture at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession 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 the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an impressive beginning in men’s football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I featured for his local side in London, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
Within 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus the Hatters.
Scott made 83 league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – such was his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and national team playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s best young player honour, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was named 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,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at the club, remarked last year.
Within three months later, he signed for the Cherries for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his major transfer
Scott experienced a challenging debut campaign with the club, waiting until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the team.
His second campaign was just as disrupted, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost several months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained 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 U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has begun this season just as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in every game to help them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” Scott said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
