Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before just 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
That prediction turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.
Now aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his first summons to the senior England squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential international star is a proper blast from the past, a journey rarely seen in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the top division and representing England too,” Scott said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?
Developing in non-league
His path in football has been far from a typical one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, however, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an option and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he chose to remain on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.
“All I desired to chill at my home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of doing that. Getting that little bit of childhood again was a thing I really needed.
“To gain a bit of self-belief by returning and taking part in local football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps one of the most important factors that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance stated at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an promising beginning in adult football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a complete shock.
“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in London, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
In just 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against the Hatters.
He made eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.
With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player award, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I believe he’ll play for his country and I think he will progress to the top of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Within three months after, he joined Bournemouth for a reported fee of £25m.
Getting his major transfer
Scott endured a challenging first season with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself in and out of the team.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for almost four months.
“I had quite a good run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.
“That felt like yet another setback and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to regain fitness in time.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, forming a strong partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team with the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to guide them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the national team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, getting better every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
