Back when Alex Scott made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That prediction proved to be a bit of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his first call-up to the full England squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential international star is a proper blast from the past, a story rarely told in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing England as well,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my family.”
So how did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s path in football has not been a conventional one.
He was part of four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries gave Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he chose to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to relax at my home with my mates at weekends because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. To have that slice of youth back was a thing I definitely needed.
“To gain some confidence by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their league match at Phoenix Sports.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager Tony Vance commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club the Robins – chaired by islander their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an impressive start in adult football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” said the player. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“Midweek I featured for his local side in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
Within 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus the Hatters.
Scott made 83 league appearances for the club while in his teens, frequently being used as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
With his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and national team playmaker Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, remarked last year.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
Scott experienced a difficult first season with the Cherries, having to wait until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself 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 quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.
“It was almost another obstacle and it was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, developing a strong partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team with the national coach.
And he has begun this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my career,” Scott said recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and with luck I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
