When the young midfielder made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That prediction turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his first call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a true blast from the past, a journey seldom seen in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the top division and playing for the national team too,” Scott stated previously.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for myself and my family.”
But how did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
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 from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast 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 him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind was not in it.
Instead, he chose to remain on the island and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling every week was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at home with my friends at weekends because I missed nearly four and a half years of that experience. Getting that little bit of childhood back was something I definitely required.
“Building some self-belief by coming back and taking part in local football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important factors that led me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, the teenager became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach stated back then.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking his early progress after an impressive beginning in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
Within 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against the Hatters.
Scott made 83 league appearances for the club while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to 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 nod to City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he’ll play for his country and I think he will progress to the top of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.
Less than 90 days after, he joined the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being in and out of the team.
His following season was just as disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly four months.
“I had quite a good run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.
“It was yet another setback and it was turning out to be a pretty bad start for the first half.”
But he was then called up by the national team 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 competition in Slovakia, forming a formidable understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has begun this season equally as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my career,” Scott said recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, getting better every day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
