When Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That prediction turned out to be something of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his first call-up to the full England team.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a proper throwback, a story rarely told in the modern era.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and playing for the national team too,” Scott said in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for me and my family.”
But in what way did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
His path in football has not been a typical one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air 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 was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.
Instead, he opted to remain on the island and play for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that slice of youth again was something I definitely required.
“Building some confidence by returning and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important things that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance stated back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an impressive start in adult football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against Luton.
He went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the club while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’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.
“No doubt, I believe he will represent his country and I think he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, the player’s manager at the club, stated previously.
Less than three months later, he joined Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
The midfielder endured a challenging debut campaign with the club, having to wait until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“I had quite a good run at the end of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained Scott.
“That felt like almost another setback and it was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a strong partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun the current campaign just as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to help them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, maintain my love for football, improving day on day, and with luck I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
