When Alex Scott made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That statement turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his maiden summons to the full England team.
His rise from non-league prodigy to possible England player 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 pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and playing for England as well,” Scott said previously.
“It has been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
But how did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?
Learning in the lower tiers
His path in football has been far from a typical one.
He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his island home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an option and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to relax at my home with my friends at weekends because I missed almost several years of doing that. To have that slice of youth back was something I really needed.
“Building some self-belief by returning and playing local football was massive for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial factors that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their league match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” manager the coach commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by islander their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an impressive start in adult football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled Scott. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and by Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a deal.”
Within 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against the Hatters.
Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, often being used as a wing-back – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player honour, was selected in the league’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he’ll play for England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Less than 90 days after, he joined the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
Scott endured a difficult debut campaign with the club, waiting until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the team.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like yet another setback 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 Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, forming a strong partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season just as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” the player said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, getting better every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
