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

Back when Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”

That prediction turned out to be something of an understatement.

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

His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a proper blast from the past, a story seldom seen in the modern game.

Next stop? A major tournament?

“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, never mind featuring in the top division and representing England as well,” the player said previously.

“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for me and my loved ones.”

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

Learning in non-league

Scott’s path in football has been far from a typical one.

He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.

Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. 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 opted to stay on the island and play for his hometown club.

“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was becoming a bit too much,” he explained.

“I just wanted to chill at my home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that slice of childhood back was something I really needed.

“Building a bit of confidence by returning and taking part in local football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important factors that led me where I am today.”

At the age of 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half substitute in their league match at Phoenix Sports.

“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach commented back then.

“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”

Making a comeback to the pro ranks

Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a trial in late 2019.

“The whole experience was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a complete shock.

“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and by Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”

In just a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut versus the Hatters.

He went on to make 83 league outings for the club while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.

With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the division’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.

“No doubt, I think he will represent his country and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.

Less than three months later, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of £25m.

Securing his big move

Scott experienced a difficult debut campaign with the club, waiting until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself in and out of the team.

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

“There was a decent run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.

“It was almost 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 Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.

He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, forming a formidable partnership in midfield with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the senior side with the national coach.

And he has started the current campaign just as impressively for his club, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the table.

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

“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, improving day on day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”