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

This prediction proved to be a bit of an underestimation.

Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his maiden summons to the full England team.

His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a true throwback, a journey seldom seen in the modern game.

Next stop? The World Cup?

“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, never mind playing in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” the player stated in a recent interview.

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

But how did Alex Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself here?

Developing in non-league

His football journey has been far from a typical one.

He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.

Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. The Cherries gave him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind was not in it.

Instead, he opted to remain on the island and turn out for his local team.

“My form had dipped and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.

“All I desired to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed nearly four and a half years of that experience. Getting that slice of youth again was something I definitely needed.

“To gain some self-belief by returning and taking part in island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial factors that got me where I am today.”

At the age of 16, Scott made history as the youngest player 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 side because he’s that good,” manager the coach commented back then.

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

Making a comeback to the professional game

Second-tier club the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an promising beginning in adult football and gave him a try-out in late 2019.

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

“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”

In just a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus the Hatters.

He went on to make 83 league appearances for the club while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.

With his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

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

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

Securing his major transfer

Scott experienced a difficult first season with the Cherries, having to wait until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.

His second campaign was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly 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.

“That felt like 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 the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to get himself fit in time.

He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, developing a strong partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.

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

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

“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for the game, getting better day on day, and with luck I impress the England manager and get my chance.”