Back when Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”
This prediction turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.
Now aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his first summons to the senior Three Lions squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential international star is a true blast from the past, a journey rarely told in the modern game.
What’s next? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the top division and representing the national team too,” Scott stated in a recent interview.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed completely for me and my loved ones.”
But in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?
Learning in non-league
His path in football has been far from a typical one.
He was part of over four years in the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the club’s academy sides.
Before he turned 13, however, they released him. The Cherries gave him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.
Instead, he chose to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.
“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“I just wanted to relax at my home with my friends at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of doing that. To have that slice of childhood back was a thing I really needed.
“To gain a bit of self-belief by returning and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important factors that led me to this point.”
When he was just 16, the teenager became the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach stated at the time.
“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled Scott. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.
“On the Wednesday 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 done deal for me to sign a deal.”
Within 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut versus Luton.
Scott made 83 league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was their best player.
Thanks to his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.
By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s team of the year and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he will represent his country and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.
Within three months later, he signed for the Cherries for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.
Securing his major transfer
The midfielder endured a challenging debut campaign with the club, having to wait until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.
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 close of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.
“It was almost another obstacle and it was shaping up as a pretty bad start for the first five months.”
But he was then called up by England 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 strong understanding in the middle with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.
And he has begun this season just as impressively for his club, playing in every game to guide them to the top five in the standings.
“To play for the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my life,” the player said earlier this season.
“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”
