Rising from grassroots to England selection - the story of ‘Guernsey Grealish’ Alex Scott?

When the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”

That statement turned out to be something of an underestimation.

Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his maiden summons to the senior Three Lions 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 zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, never mind playing in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” the player said previously.

“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for me and my loved ones.”

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

Learning in the lower tiers

His path in football has not been a typical one.

He was part of over four years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.

Before he turned 13, however, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.

Instead, he chose to remain on the island and turn out for his local team.

“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.

“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that little bit of youth back was a thing I definitely needed.

“Building some self-belief by returning and taking part in local football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial factors that led me where I am today.”

When he was just 16, the teenager became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half replacement in their league match at Phoenix Sports.

“I’ve been having 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 at the time.

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

Returning to the professional game

Championship side the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an promising start in men’s football and gave him a trial in late 2019.

“It was chaos,” recalled the player. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a total surprise.

“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a contract.”

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

Scott went on to make eighty-three league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – such was his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.

Thanks to his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and national team playmaker Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was selected in the division’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“No doubt, I think he’ll play for England and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at the club, stated last year.

Within 90 days later, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.

Getting his major transfer

The midfielder endured a challenging debut campaign with the club, waiting until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.

His following season was just as affected, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly four months.

“I had a decent run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.

“It was almost another obstacle and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible start 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 started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, developing a strong understanding in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team under the national coach.

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

“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my career,” the player stated recently.

“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving every day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”