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When Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then 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 midfielder has just received his first call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.

His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a true blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern game.

Next stop? A major tournament?

“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the Premier League and playing for England too,” Scott stated previously.

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

So how did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself at this level?

Learning in the lower tiers

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

He was part of over four years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of 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 club’s academy sides.

Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave Scott an option and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.

Instead, he chose to remain on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.

“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.

“All I desired to relax at my home with my friends at weekends because I had missed almost four and a half years of that experience. To have that slice of youth again was a thing I really needed.

“To gain a bit of confidence by returning and playing local football was huge for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial factors that got me to this point.”

When he was just 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a second-half replacement in their league match at Phoenix Sports.

“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance commented back then.

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

Making a comeback to the professional game

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

“It was chaos,” recalled Scott. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.

“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to sign a contract.”

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

He went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – such was his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was their best player.

With his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was voted the club’s player and young player of the Year.

“Without question, I believe he will represent his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s manager at the club, stated previously.

Within 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.

Getting his major transfer

The midfielder endured a difficult first season with the club, waiting until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the team.

His following season was equally disrupted, this time by a knee operation which sidelined him for almost four months.

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

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

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

He started five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, developing a formidable understanding in the middle with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.

And he has begun the current campaign equally as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to help them to fifth in the table.

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

“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”