Back when the young midfielder made his local team 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 prediction turned out to be a bit of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his maiden summons to the full Three Lions squad.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a proper blast from the past, a story seldom told in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the top division and representing England as well,” Scott said previously.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for me and my family.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Developing in the lower tiers
His path in football has not been a typical one.
He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his island home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before he turned 13, though, they released him. Bournemouth gave Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.
Rather, he chose to remain on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at home with my friends at weekends because I missed almost several years of doing that. Getting that slice of childhood back was something I definitely required.
“Building some confidence by coming back and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial factors that got me to this point.”
When he was just 16, Scott became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half substitute in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach stated 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.”
Returning to the professional game
Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking his early progress after an impressive beginning in adult football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a three goals. From that point 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 first-team debut against the Hatters.
He made 83 league appearances for the club while still a teenager, often being used as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.
Thanks to his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season award, was selected in the division’s best XI and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I believe he will represent his country and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.
Less than three months later, he joined the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
Scott experienced a challenging first season with the club, waiting until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, 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.
“There was a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“It was yet another setback and it was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season just 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 one of the proudest moments of my life,” Scott stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, maintain my love for football, improving day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
