When Alex Scott made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
This prediction proved to be a bit of an underestimation.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his maiden call-up to the senior England team.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a proper blast from the past, a story rarely told in the modern game.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the Premier League and representing England too,” Scott said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have transformed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
So how did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Learning in non-league
His football journey has been far from a typical one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, however, they released him. Bournemouth gave him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to stay on the island and play for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was starting to feel a bit too much,” he recalled.
“All I desired to chill at my home with my mates at weekends because I missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. Getting that slice of childhood back was a thing I really needed.
“Building a bit of confidence by returning and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important things 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 substitute in their league match at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the side because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance stated back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side Bristol City – chaired by islander their owner – had been monitoring his development after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I played for his local side in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
In just 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against Luton.
He went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was voted the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for England and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.
Less than 90 days later, he joined the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
Scott endured a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the team.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“I had a decent run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.
“It was yet another setback and it was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first half.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the first team under the national coach.
And he has started the current campaign just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the standings.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, maintain my love for football, getting better every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
