When Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That statement turned out to be a bit of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his first summons to the full Three Lions team.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a true blast from the past, a story seldom told in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the top division and representing England as well,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for me and my loved ones.”
But how did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s football journey has been far from a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his mind was not in it.
Rather, he chose to remain on the island and turn out for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“All I desired to chill at home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed almost several years of doing that. Getting that little bit of youth again was a thing I really required.
“To gain some confidence by coming back and taking part in local football was massive for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial factors that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on 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 include him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an impressive start in adult football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled the player. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.
“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in London, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
In just a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against Luton.
Scott went on to make 83 league appearances for the club while in his teens, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I think he’ll play for his country and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at the club, stated previously.
Within three months after, he signed for the Cherries for a understood fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
The midfielder experienced a challenging first season with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the team.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, forming a formidable partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has started the current campaign just as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in every game to help them to the top five in the standings.
“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
