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Back when Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 fans in 2019, his coach back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best 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 just received his maiden call-up to the full England squad.

His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible England player is a proper throwback, a story seldom told in the modern era.

What’s next? A major tournament?

“Back then, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, let alone playing in the Premier League and playing for England as well,” Scott stated previously.

“It’s been a incredible five or six years of my life, and things have changed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”

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

Developing in the lower tiers

His football journey has not been a typical one.

He spent over four years in Southampton’s academy setup from the age of eight, leaving school early each Friday to fly from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could attend training and feature for the club’s academy sides.

Before his 13th birthday, however, they released him. The Cherries gave him an option and he remained with them for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.

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

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

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

“Building a bit of self-belief by coming back and taking part in local football was huge for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial things that got me to this point.”

When he was just 16, Scott became the youngest player in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in their Isthmian League match at the opposition.

“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager Tony Vance stated at the time.

“Everyone’s now seen that – his retention 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 the Robins – chaired by islander Steve Lansdown – had been monitoring his early progress after an promising beginning in adult football and arranged a try-out in December 2019.

“It was chaos,” said Scott. “The first day I trained with the under-18s, the next day I trained with the senior squad, which was a total shock.

“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in London, returned home and on the Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a three goals. From that point a done deal for me to sign a deal.”

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

Scott went on to make eighty-three league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, frequently 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 their best player.

With his skill to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to Manchester City and national team playmaker Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player award, was selected in the division’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s player and young player of the Year.

“No doubt, I think he’ll play for England and I’m sure he will progress to the pinnacle of the game,” his former manager, the player’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.

Less than 90 days later, he joined the Cherries for a understood fee of £25m.

Securing his major transfer

Scott endured a difficult 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 in and out of the team.

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

“I had a decent run at the close of the previous campaign, which was nice to have, then I fractured my jaw,” said Scott.

“It was yet another setback and the year was turning out to be quite a terrible year for the first half.”

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 England U21s’ six matches as they went on to win the tournament in the host nation, developing a strong understanding in midfield with his teammate, who himself has excelled for the senior side under the national coach.

And he has begun this season just as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in every game to help them to the top five in the standings.

“To play for the England senior team would be among the most special moments of my career,” the player said recently.

“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”