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Back when the young midfielder made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”

That statement turned out to be a bit of an understatement.

Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his maiden summons to the senior England squad.

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

Next stop? A major tournament?

“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and playing for the national team too,” Scott stated previously.

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

But in what way did Alex Scott, known fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?

Learning in non-league

His 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 home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.

Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.

Rather, he opted to stay on the island and turn out for his local team.

“My form had dipped and traveling 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 doing that. Getting that slice of childhood back was a thing I definitely required.

“Building some self-belief by coming back and playing local football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important factors that led me to this point.”

When he was just 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.

“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” manager the coach stated at the time.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”

Returning to the pro ranks

Championship side Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an impressive start in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.

“The whole experience was chaos,” said Scott. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.

“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”

Within a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against Luton.

He went on to make 83 league appearances for the club while in his teens, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.

With his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season award, 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’ll play for his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated previously.

Within three months later, he joined the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of 25 million pounds.

Securing his big move

Scott endured a challenging first season with the club, waiting until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.

His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for nearly several months.

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

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

But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.

He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the first team with the national coach.

And he has started this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to the top five in the standings.

“To play for the national team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” the player stated recently.

“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying the game, improving every day, and with luck I impress the England manager and get my chance.”