Back when Alex Scott made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
This statement turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.
Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his maiden call-up to the senior England squad.
His rise from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a proper throwback, a journey seldom seen in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, let alone playing in the top division and representing England too,” Scott stated previously.
“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed drastically for me and my family.”
But in what way did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?
Learning in non-league
His path in football has been far from a conventional one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his island home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer him an opportunity and he remained with them for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.
Rather, he opted to stay on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling every week was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed almost several years of that experience. To have that slice of youth back was a thing I really required.
“To gain a bit of confidence by coming back and taking part in local football was massive for me. It was probably the most crucial things 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 Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Championship side Bristol City – chaired by islander their owner – had been tracking his development after an impressive beginning in adult football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled Scott. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
Within a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut versus Luton.
He went on to make 83 league appearances for the club while still a teenager, often being used as a wing-back – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I think he will represent his country and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at the club, stated previously.
Less than three months later, he signed for the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of £25m.
Securing his major transfer
Scott experienced a difficult first season with the club, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the starting XI.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“I had quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.
“That felt like almost another setback and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad start for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable partnership in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team under the national coach.
And he has started the current campaign just as impressively for his club, featuring in every game to help them to fifth in the standings.
“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” Scott said recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for football, improving every day, and with luck I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
