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When Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”

This prediction proved to be something of an underestimation.

Now aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first call-up to the senior Three Lions team.

His rise from eighth-tier talent to potential international star is a true blast from the past, a story rarely seen in the modern era.

What’s next? The World Cup?

“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the Premier League and playing for England as well,” the player stated previously.

“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed drastically for me and my family.”

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

Learning in the lower tiers

Scott’s 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 Guernsey to the south coast so he could train and play for the club’s academy sides.

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

Rather, he chose to stay on the island and turn out for his local team.

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

“All I desired to chill at my home with my mates at weekends because I missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. To have that slice of youth back was a thing I definitely needed.

“Building some self-belief by returning and playing local football was massive for me. It was probably the most crucial factors that got me to this point.”

When he was just 16, the teenager made history as the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in their league match 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 Tony Vance commented back then.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”

Making a comeback to the professional game

Second-tier club the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an promising start in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.

“It was hectic,” recalled the player. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total shock.

“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”

Within 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus the Hatters.

Scott went on to make 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and playing out of position he was their best player.

Thanks to his skill to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team playmaker Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he won the second tier’s young player of the season award, was selected in the league’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“No doubt, I think he will represent England and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, the player’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.

Less than 90 days later, he joined Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.

Getting his major transfer

The midfielder endured a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the team.

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

“There was a decent run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.

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

But he was then called up by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit in time.

He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, forming a formidable understanding in midfield with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.

And he has started this season just as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to help them to fifth in the standings.

“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my career,” Scott said earlier this season.

“It’s down to me, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”