Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey 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.”
That prediction proved to be something of an understatement.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his first call-up to the senior England squad.
His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential international star is a true blast from the past, a journey rarely 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 featuring in the top division and playing for England as well,” Scott said in a recent interview.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed drastically for me and my loved ones.”
But how did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?
Learning in the lower tiers
His football journey has not been a conventional one.
He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.
Rather, he opted to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“My form had dipped and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed almost several years of doing that. Getting that slice of youth back was something I definitely needed.
“To gain a bit of confidence by returning and taking part in local football was huge for me. It was perhaps one of the most important factors that got me to this point.”
When he was just 16, the teenager 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 the opposition.
“I had 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 back then.
“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Championship side Bristol City – chaired by islander their owner – had been monitoring his early progress after an impressive beginning in adult football and gave him a trial in late 2019.
“It was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.
“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
Within 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against the Hatters.
He made eighty-three league appearances for the club while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
Thanks to his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was voted the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I think he’ll play for England and I think he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at the club, stated previously.
Less than 90 days after, he signed for the Cherries for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his big move
Scott endured a challenging debut campaign with the club, waiting until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost several months.
“I had a decent run at the end of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.
“That felt like almost another obstacle and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, forming a formidable understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the senior side under the national coach.
And he has started the current campaign equally as impressively for his club, playing in all matches to help them to the top five in the standings.
“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” the player said recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and with luck I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
