When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That statement proved to be something of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first summons to the senior England team.
His rise from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a proper blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a professional football player, let alone featuring in the Premier League and playing for England too,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?
Learning in the lower tiers
Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave 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 opted to remain on the island and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to relax at home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed nearly four and a half years of that experience. Getting that little bit of childhood again was a thing I really required.
“Building some self-belief by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. It was probably the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager Tony Vance commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Championship side the Robins – owned by islander their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an impressive start in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the second day I was with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
Within 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against the Hatters.
He made eighty-three league appearances for the club while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.
With his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he will represent his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated previously.
Within 90 days after, he signed for the Cherries for a reported fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a challenging debut campaign with the club, waiting until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the team.
His second campaign was just as disrupted, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“There was a decent run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like yet another setback and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable understanding in the middle with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the senior side with the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign just as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to guide them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, improving day on day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
