When the young midfielder made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
This prediction proved to be something of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first summons to the full England team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a true throwback, a journey rarely told in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, let alone featuring in the top division and playing for the national team too,” Scott stated previously.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for me and my family.”
So how did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Learning in non-league
His path in football has been far from a conventional one.
He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, however, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott 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 remain on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to relax at my home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of that experience. To have that little bit of childhood back was something I definitely needed.
“Building a bit of confidence by returning and playing local football was massive for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important things that led me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss 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 pure quality.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an impressive beginning in men’s football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the second day I was with the first team, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a deal.”
Within 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus the Hatters.
He made eighty-three league outings for the club while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was their best player.
With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, 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 will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Within three months later, he joined Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his major transfer
Scott endured a difficult first season with the club, waiting until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the team.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost four months.
“I had a decent run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, forming a formidable understanding in the middle with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team under the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as strongly for his club, playing in all matches to guide them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” the player stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
