Back when Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
This statement turned out to be a bit of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has just received his first call-up to the senior England squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a proper 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 becoming a professional football player, never mind featuring in the top division and playing for England too,” Scott stated previously.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have transformed completely for me and my loved ones.”
But how did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
His football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He spent over four years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, however, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.
Rather, he chose to stay on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that slice of youth again was something I really required.
“Building a bit of confidence by coming back and playing local football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial things that got me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute in their 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,” manager Tony Vance stated back then.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by islander their owner – had been monitoring his development after an promising beginning in men’s football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” said the player. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
In just 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against the Hatters.
Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was voted the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I think he’ll play for England and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Within three months after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
Scott endured a difficult debut campaign with the club, waiting until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly several months.
“I had quite a good run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.
“It was yet another obstacle and it was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first half.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness in time.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, developing a formidable understanding in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has started this season just as impressively for his club, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” Scott said recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a player, keep enjoying the game, getting better every day, and with luck I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
