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When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his Guernsey debut versus Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then assured, “there’s more to come from this boy.”

This statement proved to be something of an understatement.

Today aged 22 and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his first call-up 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 rarely seen in the modern era.

What’s next? A major tournament?

“In my mind, there was zero possibility of becoming a pro footballer, let alone playing in the Premier League and representing the national team as well,” the player stated previously.

“It has been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed drastically for me and my family.”

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

Developing in non-league

Scott’s football journey has not been a conventional one.

He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his home on the Channel Island to the south coast so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.

Before he turned 13, however, they released him. 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 wasn’t fully committed.

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

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

“All I desired to relax at home with my mates at the weekend because I missed nearly four and a half years of that experience. To have that slice of youth back was a thing I really needed.

“Building some self-belief by coming back and taking part in island football was massive for me. It was probably the most crucial things that got me where I am today.”

At the age of 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a 57th-minute replacement in their Isthmian League fixture at Phoenix Sports.

“I had trouble sleeping because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side 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.”

Making a comeback to the professional game

Second-tier club Bristol City – chaired by Guernsey resident Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s development after an promising beginning in men’s football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.

“It was chaos,” recalled the player. “The first day I joined the youth team, the next day I trained with the first team, which was a total shock.

“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I took the field for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”

In just a year and a half, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his first-team debut against Luton.

Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the club while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes in attack as a attacking midfielder – such was his adaptability and versatility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was the standout performer.

Thanks to his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the EFL Championship’s young player of the season award, was chosen in the league’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“Without question, I believe he will represent England and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at the club, stated last year.

Less than 90 days later, he signed for the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of £25m.

Getting his major transfer

The midfielder endured a difficult debut campaign with the club, having to wait until the autumn to make his top-flight debut after a knee problem in the summer, and then finding himself in and out of the team.

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

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

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

But he was then called up by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.

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

And he has started this season just as strongly for his club, playing in every game to guide them to fifth in the standings.

“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” the player said earlier this season.

“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a player, maintain my love for football, getting better every day, and hopefully I impress the national coach and earn an opportunity.”