Back when the young midfielder made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before just 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
That prediction proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his maiden summons to the senior England team.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a true throwback, a story seldom seen in the modern era.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, never mind featuring in the Premier League and playing for England as well,” the player stated previously.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for me and my family.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Learning in the lower tiers
His football journey has not been a typical one.
He was part of four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they released him. Bournemouth gave Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind was not in it.
Rather, he chose to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at my home with my mates at the weekend because I missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that little bit of youth again was something I definitely required.
“To gain a bit of confidence by returning and playing local football was massive for me. It was probably one of the most important factors that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their league fixture at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager Tony Vance commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Championship side the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking Scott’s development after an promising beginning in men’s football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled the player. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the next day I was with the first team, which was a complete shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
In just 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus Luton.
He made eighty-three league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – such was his versatility and versatility. 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 moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and England playmaker Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s best young player award, was selected in the division’s team of the year 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’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.
Within 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
The midfielder endured a difficult first season with the Cherries, waiting until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being in and out of the team.
His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“I had a decent run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like yet another setback and it was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side with the national coach.
And he has begun this season equally as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” the player said recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
