When the young midfielder made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”
That prediction turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has just received his first summons to the senior England team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a true throwback, a journey seldom seen in the modern game.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, never mind playing in the top division and playing for England too,” Scott said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for myself and my family.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Learning in non-league
His path in football 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 Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.
Rather, he opted to remain on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was becoming a bit too much,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. To have that little bit of youth back was something I really required.
“Building a bit of self-belief by returning and playing local football was massive for me. It was probably one of the most important things that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance commented at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen 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
Championship side the Robins – owned by islander their owner – had been tracking Scott’s development after an promising beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” said Scott. “Day one I joined the youth team, the second day I was with the first team, which was a complete shock.
“Midweek I played for his local side in London, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
Within 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against the Hatters.
He went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility 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 rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at the club, remarked last year.
Less than 90 days later, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.
Getting his big move
Scott endured a challenging debut campaign with the club, having to wait until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost four months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“It was 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 England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit in time.
He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, forming a formidable understanding in the middle with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team with the national coach.
And he has begun this season just as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in every game to help them to fifth in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” the player stated recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, improving day on day, and with luck I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
