From grassroots all the way to national team selection - the story of ‘Guernsey Grealish’ Alex Scott?

Back when the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”

That statement proved to be a bit of an understatement.

Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his maiden call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.

His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential international star is a proper blast from the past, a journey seldom told in the modern era.

Next stop? A major tournament?

“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the top division and playing for the national team too,” the player stated in a recent interview.

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

But how did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?

Learning in non-league

Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.

He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his island home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.

Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.

Rather, he chose to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.

“My form had dipped and traveling every week was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.

“All I desired to chill at my home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of doing that. Getting that little bit of childhood again was a thing I definitely needed.

“To gain some self-belief by coming back and taking part in island football was massive for me. It was probably one of the most important factors that got me where I am today.”

At the age of 16, Scott became the youngest player in the club’s records when he came on as a 57th-minute replacement in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.

“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated back then.

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

Making a comeback to the professional game

Championship side the Robins – chaired by islander their owner – had been tracking Scott’s development after an promising beginning in men’s football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.

“It was chaos,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the second day I was with the first team, which was a complete surprise.

“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a hat-trick. It was almost a done deal for me to sign a deal.”

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

Scott went on to make 83 league outings for the club while in his teens, frequently being used as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.

With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England playmaker Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s best young player honour, was selected in the league’s best XI and was voted the club’s player and young player of the Year.

“Without question, I believe he’ll play for his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated previously.

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 first season with the club, waiting until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.

His second campaign was just as disrupted, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for nearly several months.

“There was quite a good run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.

“It was yet another setback and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first five months.”

But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness for the tournament.

He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, forming a strong partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.

And he has begun the current campaign just as strongly for his club, featuring in every game to guide them to the top five in the table.

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

“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”