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When Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”

This statement proved to be something of an underestimation.

Now 22 years old and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has earned his maiden summons to the full Three Lions squad.

His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a true blast from the past, a story seldom seen in the modern era.

What’s next? The World Cup?

“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and representing the national team as well,” Scott said in a recent interview.

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

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

Developing in the lower tiers

Scott’s path in football 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 every Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the club’s academy sides.

Prior to he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an opportunity and he remained with them for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.

Instead, he opted to remain on the island and turn out for his local team.

“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.

“All I desired to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of doing that. To have that slice of childhood back was a thing I really required.

“To gain some self-belief by coming back and playing island football was massive for me. It was probably the most crucial things that got me to this point.”

When he was just 16, the teenager made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.

“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated at the time.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”

Making a comeback to the pro ranks

Championship side the Robins – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an promising start in adult football and gave him a trial in December 2019.

“It was chaos,” said the player. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.

“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team 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, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against the Hatters.

He made 83 league appearances for the Robins while still a teenager, often being used as a wide defender – and sometimes in attack as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.

Thanks to his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.

“Without question, I think he will represent his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.

Less than 90 days after, he joined the Cherries for a reported fee of £25m.

Securing his major transfer

The midfielder experienced a difficult first season with the club, waiting until October to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself in and out of the team.

His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.

“There was quite a good run at the close of last season, which was good to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said he.

“It was almost another obstacle and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first five months.”

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

He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six games as they went on to win the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable understanding in the middle with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the first team under Thomas Tuchel.

And he has begun the current campaign just as strongly for his club, playing in every game to guide them to the top five in the standings.

“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my life,” the player stated recently.

“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a player, maintain my love for the game, improving day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”