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When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”

This statement proved to be something of an understatement.

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

His rise from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a true throwback, a journey rarely told in the modern game.

What’s next? A major tournament?

“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the Premier League and playing for the national team as well,” the player stated in a recent interview.

“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for myself and my loved ones.”

So in what way did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?

Developing in the lower tiers

His path in football has not been a conventional one.

He was part of over four years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could train and play for the club’s academy sides.

Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. The Cherries gave him an opportunity and he remained with them for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart wasn’t fully committed.

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

“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.

“All I desired to relax at my home with my friends at weekends because I missed nearly four and a half years of that experience. Getting that slice of youth back was something I really needed.

“Building some confidence by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”

When he was just 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.

“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the team because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach commented at the time.

“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is exceptional, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”

Returning to the professional game

Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an promising beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.

“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled Scott. “Day one I joined the youth team, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.

“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”

Within a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus Luton.

He made eighty-three league outings for the club while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility 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 forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team playmaker Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.

“Without question, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated previously.

Less than three months after, he joined the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.

Getting his big move

The midfielder endured a challenging first season with the club, having to wait until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, 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 almost four months.

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

“That felt like almost another setback and it was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first five months.”

But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.

He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, forming a strong partnership in midfield with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.

And he has started this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to help them to fifth in the standings.

“To play for the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my career,” Scott said earlier this season.

“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for football, getting better every day, and with luck I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”