Back when Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
That statement turned out to be something of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has just received his first summons to the full Three Lions squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a true blast from the past, a journey rarely seen in the modern era.
Next stop? A major tournament?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, never mind playing in the top division and playing for England as well,” Scott stated previously.
“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed completely for myself and my family.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?
Learning in non-league
His path in football has not been a conventional one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind was not in it.
Rather, he opted to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at my home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of doing that. Getting that little bit of childhood again was a thing I really needed.
“To gain some self-belief by returning and taking part in island football was huge for me. It was perhaps the most crucial things that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker 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 trying to work out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach commented 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.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side the Robins – owned by islander their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an impressive start in men’s football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the second day I was with the first team, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a contract.”
In just a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning 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 wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, the player’s manager at the club, stated previously.
Within three months after, he signed for the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
The midfielder experienced a challenging first season with the club, having to wait until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly several months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.
“That felt like almost another setback and it was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, forming a strong partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the first team with the national coach.
And he has started this season just as strongly for his club, featuring in all matches to guide them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my career,” the player said recently.
“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, getting better day on day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
