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When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”

That prediction turned out to be something of an underestimation.

Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the playmaker has just received his maiden call-up to the senior England team.

His ascent from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a true throwback, a journey rarely told in the modern era.

What’s next? A major tournament?

“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, never mind playing in the Premier League and representing England as well,” the player stated previously.

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

So in what way did Scott, known fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?

Developing in non-league

Scott’s path in football has not been a conventional one.

He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ academy setup starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.

Before he turned 13, though, they released him. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an opportunity and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.

Instead, he opted to stay on the island and play for his hometown club.

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

“I just wanted to relax at home with my friends at weekends because I had missed nearly several years of that experience. Getting that little bit of youth back was something I really needed.

“To gain some confidence by returning and playing local football was massive for me. That proved to be probably 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 came on as a second-half substitute in their league match at Phoenix Sports.

“I had sleepless nights 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 outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”

Returning to the pro ranks

Second-tier club Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking his early progress after an impressive beginning in men’s football and gave him a trial in December 2019.

“It was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the second day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.

“Midweek I played for his local side in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and netted a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a deal.”

In just 18 months, still well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against Luton.

Scott went on to make 83 league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his adaptability and versatility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was their best player.

Thanks to his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the EFL Championship’s best young player award, was selected in the division’s best XI and was named the club’s player and young player of the Year.

“No doubt, I believe he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at the club, remarked previously.

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

Getting his major transfer

Scott experienced a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.

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

“There was a decent run at the end of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.

“That felt like almost 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 Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.

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 strong partnership in midfield with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.

And he has started the current campaign just as strongly for his club, playing in all matches to help them to the top five in the table.

“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” Scott stated earlier this season.

“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a player, keep enjoying the game, getting better every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”