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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 coach at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”

This statement proved to be something of an underestimation.

Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his maiden summons to the senior England squad.

His ascent from non-league prodigy to potential international star is a true throwback, a story seldom told in the modern game.

What’s next? The World Cup?

“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a professional football player, never mind featuring in the top division and playing for England too,” Scott stated in a recent interview.

“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for me and my loved ones.”

But how did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up at this level?

Developing in non-league

His path in football has been far from a typical one.

He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his island home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and play for the club’s academy sides.

Prior to he turned 13, however, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave Scott an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.

Rather, he opted to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.

“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.

“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of doing that. To have that slice of childhood again was a thing I definitely required.

“Building some self-belief by returning and playing island football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important factors that got me where I am today.”

At the age of 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.

“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.

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

Returning to the professional game

Championship side the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his early progress after an impressive start in men’s football and arranged a trial in December 2019.

“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled Scott. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.

“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in London, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a contract.”

Within a year and a half, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus Luton.

He went on to make 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was the standout performer.

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

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for England and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at the club, stated previously.

Within three months after, he signed for the Cherries for a reported fee of £25m.

Securing his major transfer

Scott experienced a difficult debut campaign with the club, waiting until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the starting XI.

His second campaign was just as disrupted, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for nearly four months.

“There was a decent run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.

“It was yet another obstacle and the year 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 get himself fit for the tournament.

He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable partnership in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has excelled for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.

And he has started the current campaign equally as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.

“To play for the national team would be among the most special moments of my career,” Scott said earlier this season.

“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, getting better day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”