When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That prediction turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his maiden call-up to the full England squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a true blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern game.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the top division and representing the national team too,” Scott said in a recent interview.
“It has been a incredible five or six years of my life, and things have changed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up at this level?
Learning in the lower tiers
Scott’s football journey has not been a conventional one.
He spent over four years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, however, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he opted to stay on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at my home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of doing that. To have that little bit of youth back was a thing I really needed.
“Building a bit of self-belief by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial things that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking Scott’s development after an impressive start in men’s football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and on the 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 a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut versus Luton.
Scott made eighty-three league outings for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at the club, remarked last year.
Within 90 days later, he joined the Cherries for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his big move
The midfielder endured a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the team.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“I had a decent run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.
“That felt like almost another obstacle and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad start for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable understanding in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has started this season just as impressively for his club, playing in every game to guide them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” Scott stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a player, maintain my love for the game, getting better every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”