From non-league to national team call-up - the story of ‘Guernsey Grealish’ Alex Scott?

When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”

This prediction proved to be something of an underestimation.

Now aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his maiden call-up to the full England squad.

His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a true throwback, a story seldom told in the modern era.

Next stop? The World Cup?

“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, let alone playing in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” the player stated previously.

“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have changed drastically for myself and my family.”

So how did Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?

Learning in the lower tiers

Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.

He was part of over four years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, skipping school each 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 he turned 13, though, they released him. Bournemouth gave Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.

Rather, he opted to remain on Guernsey and play for his local team.

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

“All I desired to relax at home with my friends at weekends because I missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that little bit of youth back was something I really needed.

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

At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their league match at the opposition.

“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach stated at the time.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”

Returning to the professional game

Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by islander their owner – had been tracking his early progress after an promising start in adult football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.

“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled the player. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a complete shock.

“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in London, travelled back and by Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a three goals. It was almost 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 first-team debut versus Luton.

He went on to make eighty-three league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.

With his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the EFL Championship’s best young player honour, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for England and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.

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

Securing his big move

Scott experienced a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the team.

His following season was equally affected, this time by a surgery 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,” explained he.

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

But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness for the tournament.

He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, developing a strong partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the senior side under the national coach.

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

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

“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, getting better day on day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and get my chance.”