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When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports before just 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”

That prediction proved to be something of an understatement.

Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his first summons to the full England team.

His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a true blast from the past, a story rarely told in the modern game.

Next stop? A major tournament?

“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, let alone playing in the Premier League and representing England too,” the player stated in a recent interview.

“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for myself and my family.”

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

Developing in non-league

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

He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly 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 decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.

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

“My form had dipped and traveling every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.

“All I desired to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I had missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that slice of youth again was a thing I really needed.

“Building a bit of self-belief by returning and taking part in local football was massive for me. It was perhaps one of the most important things that led me to this point.”

When he was just 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.

“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance commented at the time.

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

Making a comeback to the professional game

Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an impressive beginning in men’s football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.

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

“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a contract.”

Within 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against Luton.

He made eighty-three league appearances for the club while in his teens, frequently being used as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.

Thanks to his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was voted the club’s player and young player of the Year.

“Without question, I think he will represent his country and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s manager at the club, remarked previously.

Less than 90 days after, he signed for the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of £25m.

Getting his big move

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

His second campaign was just as disrupted, 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 broke my jaw,” explained he.

“That felt like almost another obstacle and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first half.”

But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness in time.

He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.

And he has started this season just as impressively for his club, featuring in all matches to guide them to the top five in the table.

“Representing the England senior 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 footballer, maintain my love for football, improving every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”