When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first summons to the full England team.
His rise from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a proper blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern game.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the top division and representing the national team too,” the player said previously.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my family.”
But how did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself here?
Learning in non-league
His football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and play for the club’s academy sides.
Before he turned 13, however, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of that experience. To have that slice of youth back was a thing I definitely required.
“Building some self-belief by returning and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial factors that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half substitute in their league match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance commented back then.
“People have witnessed 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 – chaired by islander their owner – had been tracking his development after an impressive beginning in men’s football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled the player. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“Midweek I featured for his local side in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
In just 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus Luton.
He went on to make eighty-three league outings for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
With his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at the club, remarked last year.
Less than 90 days later, he joined Bournemouth 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 problem in pre-season, and then finding himself in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“I had quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained Scott.
“It was yet another obstacle and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the first team under the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as impressively for his club, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special moments of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
