From non-league to national team call-up - who is the ‘Grealish of Guernsey’ Scott?

When Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”

This prediction proved to be a bit of an underestimation.

Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his maiden call-up to the full England team.

His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a true blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern era.

Next stop? A major tournament?

“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, let alone playing in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” Scott stated in a recent interview.

“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for myself and my family.”

So how did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself 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 the Saints’ academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.

Before he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. The Cherries were willing to offer Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his mind was not in it.

Rather, he opted to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.

“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.

“I just wanted to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost four and a half years of that experience. To have that little bit of youth again was something I definitely needed.

“To gain a bit of confidence by returning and taking part in island football was massive for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important factors that got me where I am today.”

When he was just 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian 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 he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.

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

Returning to the pro ranks

Championship side the Robins – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an promising start in men’s football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.

“It was chaos,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.

“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”

Within a year and a half, still well before his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against the Hatters.

Scott made 83 league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.

Thanks to his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and England playmaker Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s best young player honour, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“No doubt, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.

Within 90 days later, he joined the Cherries for a reported fee of £25m.

Securing his big move

The midfielder experienced a challenging debut campaign with the club, having to wait until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the team.

His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.

“I had a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.

“It was almost another obstacle and the year was shaping up as a pretty bad year for the first half.”

But he was then called up by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.

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

And he has begun this season just as strongly for his club, playing in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.

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

“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”