When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”
This statement proved to be something of an understatement.
Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his maiden summons to the full England team.
His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a true blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern game.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the top division and playing for the national team too,” Scott said previously.
“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed completely for me and my loved ones.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?
Developing in the lower tiers
Scott’s path in football has been far from a conventional one.
He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to he turned 13, though, they released him. Bournemouth gave Scott an option and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.
Instead, he chose to remain on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.
“My form had dipped and traveling every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. To have that slice of youth back was a thing I really required.
“To gain some confidence by returning and playing local football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important factors that led me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager became the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their league match at the opposition.
“I had trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach stated at the time.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club the Robins – owned by islander their owner – had been monitoring his early progress after an promising beginning in adult football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.
“It was hectic,” recalled the player. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in London, travelled back and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”
In just a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut versus Luton.
Scott went on to make 83 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 adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.
With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.
“Without question, I believe he’ll play for England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated previously.
Less than three months later, he joined the Cherries for a understood fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
Scott experienced a difficult first season with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being in and out of the team.
His following season was equally affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly four months.
“There was a decent run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.
“It was almost another setback and it was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first half.”
But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.
He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, developing a formidable understanding in midfield with his teammate, who himself 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 fifth in the table.
“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” Scott said recently.
“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, getting better every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”
