When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
This statement proved to be something of an underestimation.
Now aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has just received his maiden call-up to the senior Three Lions team.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a true throwback, a journey rarely seen in the modern era.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind playing in the top division and representing England as well,” Scott said in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up here?
Developing in non-league
His football journey has not been a conventional one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave Scott an option and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he chose to stay on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to relax at my home with my friends at weekends because I missed almost several years of doing that. To have that little bit of youth again was a thing I really needed.
“Building some self-belief by returning and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial things that got me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” manager the coach stated back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an promising start in adult football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday 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. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a contract.”
In just a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut versus Luton.
Scott went on to make 83 league outings for the club while in his teens, often being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, 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 Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.
Within 90 days later, he signed for the Cherries for a reported fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
Scott experienced a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the team.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for nearly several months.
“I had quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like almost another obstacle and it was shaping up as a pretty bad start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a strong understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team under 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 standings.
“Representing the national team would be among the most special moments of my life,” Scott said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a footballer, maintain my love for football, improving every day, and with luck I impress the England manager and get my chance.”
