Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That prediction turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his first call-up 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 rarely seen in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, let alone playing in the Premier League and representing England too,” Scott stated previously.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s path in football has been far from a typical one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his island home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, however, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer him an opportunity and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his mind was not in it.
Rather, he opted to remain on the island and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at my home with my friends at weekends because I missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that little bit of youth back was something I definitely required.
“Building some confidence by returning and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial factors that got me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian 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 side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach stated at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the pro ranks
Championship side the Robins – chaired by islander their owner – had been tracking Scott’s development after an promising start in adult football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“It was hectic,” said the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a deal.”
In just a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against Luton.
Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was selected in the league’s best XI and was voted the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I believe he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
The midfielder experienced a difficult first season with the Cherries, waiting until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the team.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost several months.
“There was a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“That felt like yet another setback and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the first team under the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in every game to guide them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” the player stated recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”
