Back when the young midfielder made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
This prediction turned out to be a bit of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his first call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a proper throwback, a story seldom told in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the Premier League and representing England as well,” the player said previously.
“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s path in football has been far from a typical one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind was not in it.
Instead, he opted to stay on Guernsey and play for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed almost several years of doing that. To have that slice of youth back was something I really required.
“Building a bit of confidence by returning and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance 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.”
Returning to the professional game
Second-tier club the Robins – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled Scott. “The first day I joined the youth team, the next day I was with the first team, which was a complete shock.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
Within 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against the Hatters.
He made eighty-three league outings for the club while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and national team playmaker Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player honour, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I think he will represent England and I think he’ll go on to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Less than three months later, he signed for the Cherries for a understood fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
The midfielder experienced a challenging debut campaign with the club, having to wait until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the team.
His following season was just as affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for almost several months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained Scott.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and it was shaping up as a pretty bad year for the first half.”
But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, forming a strong partnership in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the senior side with the national coach.
And he has started this season just as strongly for his club, playing in every game to guide them to fifth in the standings.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” the player stated earlier this season.
“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.”
