Back when Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
This statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his first summons to the senior England squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a true throwback, a journey rarely seen in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, never mind featuring in the top division and playing for the national team too,” the player said in a recent interview.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for me and my family.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself here?
Learning in non-league
His football journey has been far from a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each 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 he turned 13, though, 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 heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he chose to stay on the island and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at my home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of doing that. To have that slice of youth again was a thing I really needed.
“Building some confidence by coming back and taking part in local football was huge for me. It was perhaps one of the most important factors that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as 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’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an promising start in men’s football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled Scott. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in London, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
In just a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against Luton.
Scott went on to make 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for England and I think he will progress to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.
Less than three months later, he signed for the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his big move
The midfielder endured a difficult debut campaign with the club, having to wait until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the team.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for almost four months.
“I had quite a good run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained Scott.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, forming a strong partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun the current campaign just as impressively for his club, featuring in every game to help them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” the player stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
