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When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”

That statement proved 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 maiden summons to the full England team.

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

What’s next? A major tournament?

“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the top division and representing England as well,” the player said in a recent interview.

“It’s been a crazy five or six years of my life, and things have changed completely for myself and my family.”

So in what way did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?

Developing in the lower tiers

His football journey has not been a conventional one.

He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system from the age of eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.

Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.

Rather, he opted to stay on the island and play for his local team.

“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling weekly was starting to feel a bit too much,” he explained.

“I just wanted to chill at home with my mates at weekends because I missed nearly four and a half years of doing that. Getting that little bit of childhood back was something I definitely required.

“To gain a bit of confidence by returning and taking part in island football was massive for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”

When he was just 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement in their league match at Phoenix Sports.

“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager 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 pure quality.”

Making a comeback to the professional game

Championship side the Robins – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his development after an promising beginning in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.

“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled Scott. “The first day I joined the under-18s, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a complete surprise.

“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a hat-trick. From that point a certainty for me to sign a contract.”

In just a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against Luton.

Scott went on to make eighty-three league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, often being deployed as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.

With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and national team playmaker Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s young player of the season award, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was named the club’s top player and top youngster.

“Without question, I think he’ll play for his country and I think he will progress to the top of the game,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.

Less than 90 days later, he joined Bournemouth for a reported transfer fee of £25m.

Securing his major transfer

Scott experienced a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.

His following season was equally disrupted, this time by a surgery which sidelined him for nearly several months.

“There was quite a good run at the close of the previous campaign, which was good to have, then I broke my jaw,” said Scott.

“It was yet another setback and it was turning out to be a pretty bad year for the first half.”

But he was then selected by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness in time.

He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, developing a formidable understanding in midfield with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team with the national coach.

And he has started this season just as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to help them to fifth in the standings.

“To play for the national team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” Scott stated earlier this season.

“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to keep progressing as a player, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”