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Back when the young midfielder made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”

This prediction turned out to be a bit of an underestimation.

Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his first summons to the full England squad.

His rise from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper throwback, a journey rarely seen in the modern game.

Next stop? The World Cup?

“In my mind, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” the player said previously.

“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for myself and my loved ones.”

But in what way did Alex Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?

Developing in the lower tiers

His football journey has been far from a conventional one.

He spent over four years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.

Before he turned 13, however, they released him. Bournemouth gave Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind was not in it.

Rather, he chose to remain on the island and play for his local team.

“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was becoming overwhelming,” he explained.

“I just wanted to relax at my home with my mates at weekends because I missed almost four and a half years of doing that. To have that little bit of youth back was a thing I really needed.

“Building some self-belief by coming back and taking part in island football was massive for me. It was perhaps the most crucial things that led me to this point.”

At the age of 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their league match 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,” manager Tony Vance commented back then.

“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”

Making a comeback to the professional game

Championship side the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an promising beginning in adult football and gave him a trial in late 2019.

“It was hectic,” said Scott. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.

“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”

In just 18 months, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus Luton.

Scott went on to make 83 league appearances for the club 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 not in his natural role he was the standout performer.

Thanks to his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England playmaker Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the league’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.

“Without question, I believe he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at the club, stated previously.

Within 90 days after, he signed for Bournemouth for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.

Securing his big move

Scott endured a challenging debut campaign with the club, having to wait until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.

His second campaign was equally disrupted, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for almost several months.

“I had quite a good run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.

“It was 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 the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit for the tournament.

He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, developing a formidable partnership in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team with the national coach.

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

“To play for the national team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” Scott stated recently.

“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to keep progressing as a footballer, maintain my love for the game, improving day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”