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

Back when Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”

This statement turned out to be something of an underestimation.

Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his maiden call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.

His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a proper throwback, a story rarely told in the modern era.

What’s next? The World Cup?

“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a professional football player, never mind featuring in the Premier League and representing England as well,” Scott said in a recent interview.

“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and things have changed drastically for me and my loved ones.”

So how did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?

Learning in the lower tiers

Scott’s football journey has not been a conventional one.

He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.

Before his 13th birthday, though, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an option 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 opted to remain on Guernsey and play for his local team.

“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.

“All I desired to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I missed almost several years of that experience. To have that little bit of youth again was a thing I really needed.

“Building some self-belief by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. It was probably one of the most important factors that got me to this point.”

When he was just 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.

“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” manager Tony Vance commented back then.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”

Returning to the professional game

Championship side the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking his development after an promising beginning in adult football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.

“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled Scott. “The first day I joined the youth team, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.

“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”

Within 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against Luton.

Scott made 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.

Thanks to his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and England playmaker Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s best young player award, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.

“No doubt, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.

Less than 90 days after, he joined Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of £25m.

Getting his big move

Scott endured a challenging first season with the club, waiting until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.

His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation 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,” said Scott.

“That felt like yet another obstacle and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first five months.”

But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.

He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, developing a formidable partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.

And he has begun this season equally as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to help them to fifth in the standings.

“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my career,” Scott stated earlier this season.

“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”