From non-league all the way to England selection - who is the ‘Grealish of Guernsey’ Scott?

When Alex Scott made his local team debut against 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 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his first summons to the full Three Lions team.

His rise from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a true throwback, a story rarely told in the modern era.

Next stop? A major tournament?

“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, never mind featuring in the top division and playing for England as well,” Scott stated previously.

“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for myself and my family.”

But in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up at this level?

Learning in non-league

Scott’s path in football has been far from a conventional one.

He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his island home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.

Before his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an option and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.

Rather, he chose to stay on the island and turn out for his hometown club.

“My form had dipped and flying over every week was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.

“All I desired to chill at home with my friends at weekends because I missed almost four and a half years of that experience. Getting that slice of youth back was a thing I definitely needed.

“Building a bit of confidence by coming back and taking part in island football was massive for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial factors that led me where I am today.”

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 second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.

“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated back then.

“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”

Returning to the pro ranks

Championship side the Robins – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an promising beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.

“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the next day I was with the first team, which was a total shock.

“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”

In just a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus the Hatters.

Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.

With his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester 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 award, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.

“Without question, I believe he’ll play for England and I think he will progress to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, stated previously.

Within three months after, he joined Bournemouth for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.

Securing his big move

The midfielder experienced a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, 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 nearly four months.

“There was quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.

“It was yet another setback and it was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first five months.”

But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness in time.

He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, forming a strong partnership in the middle with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.

And he has started this season just as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to guide them to the top five in the table.

“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my life,” Scott said recently.

“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, improving day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”