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Back when Alex Scott made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then predicted, “there’s more to come from this boy.”

That statement proved to be a bit of an underestimation.

Now aged 22 and a Premier League regular with Bournemouth, the playmaker has earned his first summons to the senior Three Lions team.

His rise from non-league prodigy to possible international star is a proper throwback, a story seldom seen in the modern era.

What’s next? A major tournament?

“Back then, there was zero possibility of becoming a professional football player, let alone playing in the Premier League and playing for England too,” Scott stated in a recent interview.

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

But in what way did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, find himself here?

Learning in non-league

Scott’s path in football has been far from a typical one.

He spent four and a half years in Southampton’s youth system starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to travel by air from his island home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could attend training and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.

Before his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth gave 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 chose to remain on the island and play for his hometown club.

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

“I just wanted to relax at home with my friends at weekends because I missed nearly four and a half years of that experience. To have that little bit of childhood back was something I definitely required.

“To gain a bit of confidence by returning and playing island 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, the teenager made history as the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.

“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” Guernsey boss the coach commented at the time.

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

Returning to the professional game

Championship side Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an impressive beginning in men’s football and arranged a try-out in late 2019.

“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.

“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”

In just 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut versus the Hatters.

Scott went on to make 83 league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently being used as a wing-back – and sometimes 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.

Thanks to his skill to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the division’s best XI and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.

“No doubt, I think he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s boss at the club, remarked last year.

Less than 90 days later, he signed for Bournemouth for a understood fee of 25 million pounds.

Securing his big move

The midfielder experienced a difficult first season with the club, having to wait until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.

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

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

“It was yet another obstacle and the year was shaping up as a pretty bad year for the first five months.”

But he was then selected by England for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in get himself fit in time.

He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the tournament in the host nation, developing a strong understanding in the middle with his teammate, who in turn has gone on to impress for the first team with Thomas Tuchel.

And he has begun this season just as impressively for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to help them to fifth in the standings.

“Representing the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” Scott said recently.

“It’s down to me, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, improving every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the England manager and earn an opportunity.”