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When Alex Scott made his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”

This prediction proved to be something of an underestimation.

Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his maiden summons to the senior England team.

His rise from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper throwback, a journey seldom told in the modern era.

What’s next? A major tournament?

“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the Premier League and playing for the national team 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.”

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

Developing in the lower tiers

His football journey has not been a typical one.

He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.

Before his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart wasn’t fully committed.

Rather, he chose to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.

“My form had dipped and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.

“All I desired to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that little bit of youth back was a thing I definitely required.

“Building some confidence by returning and taking part in local football was huge for me. It was probably one of the most important things that led me to this point.”

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

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

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

Making a comeback to the professional game

Championship side the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking his development after an promising start in adult football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.

“The whole experience was chaos,” said the player. “The first day I trained with the youth team, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.

“Midweek I played for his local side in London, returned home and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a deal.”

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

He went on to make eighty-three league outings for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.

Thanks to his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he won the EFL Championship’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.

“No doubt, I think he’ll play for England and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” his former manager, the player’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.

Less than three months later, he joined Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of £25m.

Securing his big move

Scott experienced a challenging first season with the Cherries, having to wait until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then being in and out of the team.

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

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

“It was yet another obstacle and it was turning out to be a pretty bad start for the first five months.”

But he was then called up by England for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.

He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, developing a strong partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.

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

“To play for the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my life,” Scott stated recently.

“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better every day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”