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When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”

This prediction proved to be something of an underestimation.

Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his maiden summons to the full England team.

His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a proper blast from the past, a journey rarely told in the modern game.

Next stop? The World Cup?

“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the Premier League and representing the national team too,” the player stated previously.

“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for me and my loved ones.”

But in what way did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself here?

Learning in non-league

His path in football has been far from a conventional one.

He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.

Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they released him. Bournemouth gave Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.

Rather, he opted to remain on the island and play for his hometown club.

“My form had dipped and flying over every week was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.

“I just wanted to chill at my home with my friends at weekends because I had missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. To have that little bit of youth back was a thing I definitely required.

“Building a bit of self-belief by coming back and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial things that got me to this point.”

When he was just 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.

“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach stated back then.

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

Returning to the professional game

Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an promising start in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.

“It was hectic,” said the player. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.

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

In just 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against the Hatters.

He made eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – such was his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.

With his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s best young player honour, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.

“Without question, I believe he will represent England and I think he’ll go on to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.

Less than 90 days later, he signed for the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.

Securing his big move

Scott endured a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being in and out of the team.

His second campaign was equally 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,” explained he.

“It was yet another obstacle and the year was turning out to be a pretty bad year 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 started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, forming a formidable partnership in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side with the national coach.

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

“To play for the national team would be among the most special moments of my career,” Scott stated recently.

“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”