Rising from non-league to England call-up - the story of the ‘Grealish of Guernsey’ Scott?

When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his manager back then assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”

That prediction proved to be something of an underestimation.

Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his maiden summons to the senior Three Lions team.

His rise from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a proper blast from the past, a story seldom seen in the modern era.

Next stop? A major tournament?

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

“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my loved ones.”

So in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself here?

Developing in non-league

His football journey has been far from a typical one.

He was part of over four years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.

Prior to he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.

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

“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.

“All I desired to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that slice of childhood again was a thing I definitely required.

“Building a bit of confidence by returning and playing local football was massive for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important things that got me where I am today.”

At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their league match at the opposition.

“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager Tony Vance commented at the time.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”

Making a comeback to the professional game

Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an impressive beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.

“It was hectic,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the second day I was with the first team, which was a total shock.

“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”

In just 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against the Hatters.

Scott made eighty-three league outings for the club while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.

With his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.

“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at the club, stated last year.

Within three months after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.

Securing his big move

The midfielder endured a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being in and out of the team.

His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly four months.

“I had quite a good run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.

“It was almost another obstacle and it was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first five months.”

But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.

He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, developing a strong partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the senior side under the national coach.

And he has started this season equally as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in every game 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 must keep progressing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, improving every day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”