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When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”

This prediction turned out to be a bit of an understatement.

Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his maiden summons to the senior England team.

His ascent from eighth-tier talent to potential England player is a proper throwback, a journey rarely seen in the modern era.

What’s next? A major tournament?

“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, never mind 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 circumstances have changed completely for me and my loved ones.”

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

Developing in non-league

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

He spent over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and play for the Saints’ youth teams.

Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they released him. The Cherries gave him an opportunity and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.

Instead, he chose to remain on the island and turn out for his local team.

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

“All I desired to relax at home with my friends at the weekend because I had missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that slice of childhood back was something I really needed.

“To gain some self-belief by returning and taking part in local football was huge for me. It was probably the most crucial things that got me where I am today.”

At the age of 16, Scott became the youngest player in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.

“I had sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could include him in the team because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated at the time.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”

Making a comeback to the professional game

Championship side the Robins – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring Scott’s development after an promising beginning in men’s football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.

“The whole experience was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a complete surprise.

“On the Wednesday I featured for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and on the Friday, I played for the youth team and scored a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”

Within 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was making his first-team debut against Luton.

Scott went on to make 83 league appearances for the Robins while in his teens, 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.

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

At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was named Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“No doubt, I believe he will represent his country and I’m sure he will progress to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, stated last year.

Within three months later, he joined the Cherries for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.

Securing his big move

The midfielder experienced a challenging first season with the Cherries, having to wait until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee injury in the summer, and then being inconsistent of the starting XI.

His following season was equally affected, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost several months.

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

“It was yet another setback and the year was shaping up as a pretty bad year for the first half.”

But he was then selected by the national team for the U21 Euros – and succeeded in regain fitness for the tournament.

He went on to start five of the England U21s’ six games as they went on to win the competition in the host nation, developing a formidable understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who himself has excelled for the senior side under Thomas Tuchel.

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

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

“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for football, getting better day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the England manager and get my chance.”