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Back when Alex Scott made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”

This statement proved to be a bit of an underestimation.

Today aged 22 and an established top-flight player with Bournemouth, the midfielder has just received his first call-up to the full England squad.

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

Next stop? The World Cup?

“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” Scott stated in a recent interview.

“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have changed completely for me and my loved ones.”

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

Developing in non-league

His football journey 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 fly from his home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.

Before his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries were willing to offer him an opportunity and he remained with them for a while, but, as he later admitted, his heart was not in it.

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

“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.

“I just wanted to relax at home with my friends at weekends because I had missed almost several years of that experience. To have that little bit of childhood again was something I definitely needed.

“To gain a bit of confidence by coming back and playing island football was huge for me. It was probably one of the most important factors that led me where I am today.”

At the age of 16, Scott became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he came on as a second-half substitute in their league match at the opposition.

“I had sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the team because he’s that good,” manager the coach commented back then.

“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the way he runs with the ball, he’s pure quality.”

Making a comeback to the pro ranks

Championship side Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking his development after an promising start in men’s football and gave him a trial in December 2019.

“It was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I was with the senior squad, which was a total shock.

“Midweek I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a contract.”

Within a year and a half, even some way short of his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against Luton.

Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the club while in his teens, often being used as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his adaptability and flexibility. Even at that young age and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.

Thanks to his skill to carry the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he picked up the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and national team attacking midfielder Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 season he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the division’s best XI and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“No doubt, I think he will represent his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked previously.

Within 90 days after, he signed for the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of £25m.

Securing his big move

Scott experienced a challenging first season 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 starting XI.

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

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

“That felt like almost another obstacle and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first five months.”

But he was then called up by the national team for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.

He went on to start five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, forming a strong partnership in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.

And he has begun the current campaign equally as strongly for his club, playing in all matches to help them to the top five in the table.

“To play for the national team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” Scott stated recently.

“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, improving day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”