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Back when Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”

That prediction turned out to be something of an underestimation.

Now 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first summons to the senior England squad.

His rise from non-league prodigy to potential England player is a proper throwback, a story rarely seen in the modern era.

What’s next? The World Cup?

“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, let alone playing in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” Scott stated previously.

“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have changed completely for myself and my loved ones.”

So in what way did Alex Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself here?

Developing in the lower tiers

His football journey has been far from a conventional one.

He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.

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

Rather, he chose to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.

“My form had dipped and flying over every week was becoming a bit too much,” he recalled.

“All I desired to chill at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that little bit of childhood back was something I definitely needed.

“To gain some confidence by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial things that led me to this point.”

When he was just 16, Scott made history as the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at the opposition.

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

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

Making a comeback to the pro ranks

Championship side Bristol City – owned by islander their owner – had been tracking Scott’s development after an impressive start in adult football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.

“It was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I was with the first team, which was a total surprise.

“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I played for the youth team and netted a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”

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

Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the club while still a teenager, often being used as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was their best player.

Thanks to his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.

“Without question, I believe he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.

Within three months later, he joined the Cherries for a understood transfer fee of £25m.

Securing his big move

The midfielder experienced a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then being in and out of the team.

His following season was equally affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost several months.

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

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

But he was then selected by the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.

He went on to start five of the England U21s’ 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 senior side under the national coach.

And he has started the current campaign just as impressively for his club, featuring in every game to help them to fifth in the table.

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

“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for football, getting better day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”