When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That prediction turned out to be something of an understatement.
Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his first call-up to the senior Three Lions team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper throwback, a story rarely seen in the modern game.
What’s next? A major tournament?
“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and representing England as well,” Scott said previously.
“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.
He was part of over four years in Southampton’s youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.
Before he turned 13, however, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind was not in it.
Instead, he chose to stay on the island and turn out for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.
“All I desired to relax at my home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed almost four and a half years of that experience. Getting that little bit of childhood again was a thing I definitely required.
“Building a bit of confidence by coming back and taking part in local football was massive for me. It was probably one of the most important factors that led me to this point.”
At the age of 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” manager the coach commented back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Returning to the professional game
Championship side Bristol City – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his development after an promising start in adult football and gave him a trial in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” recalled the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I was with the first team, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in London, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”
Within a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against the Hatters.
Scott made 83 league outings for the club while in his teens, frequently being used as a wing-back – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.
With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“No doubt, I believe he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated previously.
Within 90 days after, he joined Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his major transfer
Scott experienced a difficult first season with the Cherries, waiting until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the team.
His following season was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.
“There was quite a good run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained he.
“It was yet another setback and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, forming a formidable partnership in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side with the national coach.
And he has begun this season just as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in every game to guide them to the top five in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my life,” Scott said recently.
“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, getting better every day, and hopefully I impress the England manager and earn an opportunity.”
