When Alex Scott made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That prediction turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned 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 rarely seen in the modern era.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a professional football player, never mind featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” the player said in a recent interview.
“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
His football journey has not been a typical one.
He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to travel by air from his island home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he opted to remain on the island and play for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.
“I just wanted to relax at my home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost several years of that experience. To have that little bit of childhood back was something I really needed.
“To gain a bit of self-belief by coming back and taking part in island football was huge for me. It was probably one of the most important factors that led me where I am today.”
When he was just 16, the teenager became the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“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,” manager Tony Vance commented at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an promising beginning in adult football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled the player. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the next day I was with the first team, which was a complete surprise.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
Within 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against the Hatters.
He went on to make 83 league appearances for the club while in his teens, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.
With his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was voted the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“No doubt, I believe he will represent England and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at the club, stated last year.
Less than 90 days later, he joined the Cherries for a understood fee of £25m.
Securing his big move
Scott endured a difficult first season with the club, waiting until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the starting XI.
His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for almost four months.
“There was a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.
“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 the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in Slovakia, forming a formidable understanding in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun the current campaign equally as strongly for his club, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the standings.
“Representing 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’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for football, getting better every day, and with luck I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
