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

That statement turned out to be a bit of an understatement.

Now aged 22 and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his first summons to the full Three Lions team.

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

What’s next? The World Cup?

“Back then, there was no chance of becoming a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the Premier League and playing for England as well,” the player stated previously.

“It has been a incredible five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed completely for me and my family.”

But in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up at this level?

Learning 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 travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.

Prior to he turned 13, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave Scott an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.

Rather, he chose to stay on the island and play for his hometown club.

“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.

“I just wanted to relax at my home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of doing that. Getting that slice of youth back was something I definitely required.

“To gain some confidence by returning and playing local football was huge for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important factors that led me to this point.”

When he was just 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker 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 sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach stated at the time.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”

Making a comeback to the pro ranks

Championship side the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking his early progress after an promising beginning in men’s football and arranged a trial in late 2019.

“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled Scott. “Day one I joined the under-18s, the second day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.

“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. It was almost a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”

In just 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his senior debut against the Hatters.

Scott made eighty-three league outings for the club while in his teens, frequently being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.

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

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

“Without question, I think he will represent England and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at the club, remarked previously.

Within three months later, he joined Bournemouth for a reported fee of £25m.

Securing his major transfer

The midfielder experienced a difficult debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until October to make his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being inconsistent of the team.

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

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

“That felt like yet another obstacle and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible start for the first half.”

But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to get himself fit for the tournament.

He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, forming a formidable understanding in the middle with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the first team under the national coach.

And he has begun this season equally as impressively for his club, featuring in all matches to help them to the top five in the table.

“To play for the England senior team would be one of the proudest occasions of my career,” Scott said earlier this season.

“It’s down to me, I must keep progressing as a player, maintain my love for football, improving every day, and with luck I impress the England manager and get my chance.”