When Alex Scott made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
This statement turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his first summons to the senior Three Lions squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to potential 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 zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team too,” the player stated in a recent interview.
“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for me and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s football journey has been far from a conventional one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, however, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.
Rather, he chose to stay on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was starting to feel a bit too much,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to relax at my home with my mates at weekends because I had missed nearly several years of that experience. Getting that little bit of youth again was something I definitely needed.
“To gain some confidence by coming back and taking part in local football was massive for me. It was probably one of the most important factors that got me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute in their league match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach stated back then.
“Everyone’s now seen 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
Championship side the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his early progress after an impressive beginning in men’s football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” said Scott. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I played for his local side in London, travelled back and by Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
In just 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against Luton.
He went on to make 83 league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth 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 nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he will represent England and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, stated last year.
Less than 90 days after, he joined Bournemouth for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his major transfer
The midfielder experienced a challenging first season with the Cherries, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.
“I had a decent run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.
“That felt like almost another setback and it was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to regain fitness in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, developing a formidable partnership in the middle with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team under the national coach.
And he has begun this season just as strongly for his club, playing in every game to guide them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” the player said earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a player, maintain my love for the game, getting better every day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
