Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
This prediction turned out to be something of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his first call-up to the full Three Lions squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a true blast from the past, a journey seldom told in the modern game.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind playing in the top division and playing for England too,” the player stated previously.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for me and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
His football journey has not been a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, skipping school every 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 he turned 13, though, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he chose to stay on the island and turn out 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 my home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost several years of that experience. To have that little bit of childhood again was a thing I really required.
“Building a bit of confidence by returning and playing island football was massive for me. It was probably one of the most important factors that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their league match at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his development after an impressive start in men’s football and arranged a trial in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.
“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in London, returned home and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
Within 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus Luton.
He made eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign 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 the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he’ll play for England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at the club, stated last year.
Within 90 days later, he joined the Cherries for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder endured a challenging first season with the club, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the team.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost several months.
“I had quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained Scott.
“It was almost another setback and it was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, forming a strong understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started the current campaign equally as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in every game to guide them to fifth in the standings.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” the player said recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, getting better every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
