When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his maiden call-up to the full England squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a true throwback, a journey seldom told in the modern game.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the Premier League and playing for England as well,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
But how did Alex Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Learning in the lower tiers
Scott’s path in football has been far from a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his island home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. Bournemouth gave him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he chose to stay on the island and play for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at my home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. Getting that slice of childhood again was a thing I really required.
“Building some confidence by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important factors that got me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” manager the coach stated back then.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Championship side the Robins – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an impressive start in men’s football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled Scott. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the second day I was with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“Midweek I featured for his local side in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to sign a deal.”
In just a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against Luton.
He made 83 league outings for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I think he’ll play for England and I think he will progress to the top of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.
Less than three months later, he signed for the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
The midfielder experienced a challenging first season with the club, waiting until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for nearly several months.
“There was a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“It was almost another obstacle and it was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in the middle with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun the current campaign just as strongly for his club, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the standings.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” Scott said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, improving day on day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
