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When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”

That prediction turned out to be something of an underestimation.

Now aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his maiden summons to the full England squad.

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

What’s next? The World Cup?

“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a professional football player, never mind featuring in the Premier League and playing for England too,” Scott stated previously.

“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for me and my family.”

But in what way did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up here?

Learning in non-league

His football journey has been far from a typical one.

He spent over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, leaving school early each Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and feature for the club’s academy sides.

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

Instead, he chose to stay on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.

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

“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 childhood again was something I definitely needed.

“Building a bit of confidence by returning and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial factors that got me where I am today.”

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

“I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because he’s that good,” manager the coach commented back then.

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

Returning to the pro ranks

Championship side Bristol City – owned by islander their owner – had been monitoring his early progress after an promising start in men’s football and arranged a trial in December 2019.

“It was hectic,” recalled the player. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.

“Midweek I featured for his local side in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”

In just a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut versus the Hatters.

Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the club while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally further forward as a number 10 – such was his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.

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

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the league’s best XI and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.

“No doubt, I think he will represent England and I think he will progress to the top of the sport,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.

Within 90 days after, he joined Bournemouth for a understood fee of £25m.

Getting his major transfer

Scott experienced a challenging first season with the club, having to wait until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.

His following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for nearly four months.

“I had quite a good run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” explained Scott.

“It was almost another setback 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 U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.

He started five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, developing a strong partnership in midfield with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.

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

“Representing the national team would be one of the proudest occasions of my career,” Scott stated earlier this season.

“The responsibility is mine, I must keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”