When the young midfielder made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first summons to the full England squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a proper throwback, a story seldom told in the modern era.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, never mind playing in the Premier League and playing for the national team too,” Scott stated 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.”
So how did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s football journey has not been a conventional one.
He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.
Instead, he opted to remain on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was becoming a bit too much,” he recalled.
“All I desired to relax at home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of that experience. Getting that little bit of youth again was something I definitely required.
“To gain a bit of self-belief by returning and taking part in island football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important things that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match 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 the coach commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club the Robins – chaired by islander their owner – had been monitoring his development after an promising beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in London, returned home and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
In just 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against Luton.
He made 83 league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.
With 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 nod to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s best young player honour, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he’ll play for England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, remarked last year.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
The midfielder endured a difficult debut campaign with the club, waiting until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.
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 end of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and the year 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 managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to the top five in the standings.
“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” the player said recently.
“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, getting better every day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
