Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That statement proved to be a bit of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his maiden call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a proper throwback, a story rarely seen in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” the player stated previously.
“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”
But how did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s path in football has been far from a conventional one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, however, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.
Rather, he chose to stay on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he recalled.
“All I desired to chill at my home with my friends at weekends because I had missed almost four and a half years of doing that. To have that slice of youth back was something I really needed.
“Building a bit of confidence by returning and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial factors that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Championship side the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking his early progress after an promising beginning in adult football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” said Scott. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in London, travelled back and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
Within 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut versus the Hatters.
He made 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
With his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Less than 90 days later, he signed for the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
The midfielder endured a challenging first season with the club, waiting until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost four months.
“There was a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like yet another setback and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, developing a formidable understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team with the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to guide them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special moments of my career,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
