When Alex Scott made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That statement turned out to be something of an understatement.
Now aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his first call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a proper blast from the past, a journey seldom seen in the modern game.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind playing in the top division and representing the national team as well,” Scott stated previously.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for myself and my family.”
So in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s path in football has been far from a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott 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 stay on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to relax at home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed almost four and a half years of doing that. Getting that slice of childhood back was a thing I definitely required.
“Building some self-belief by returning and playing local football was massive for me. It was 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 the club’s records when he came on as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance commented back then.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an impressive start in men’s football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled Scott. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.
“Midweek I played for his local side in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a hat-trick. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
Within a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against the Hatters.
He went on to make eighty-three league outings for the club while in his teens, frequently being used as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end 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 Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at the club, remarked last year.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a challenging debut campaign with the club, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly several months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like almost another setback and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness for the tournament.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, forming a strong partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to the top five in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” Scott said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a player, maintain my love for football, improving day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
