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Back when Alex Scott made his local team debut against Phoenix Sports in front of just 55 spectators in 2019, his coach at the time assured, “there’s more to come from this youngster.”

This statement proved to be something of an underestimation.

Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his maiden summons to the senior England squad.

His rise from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a true blast from the past, a journey rarely seen in the modern game.

Next stop? The World Cup?

“In my mind, there was no chance of making it as a pro footballer, never mind featuring in the top division and playing for the national team as well,” the player said in a recent interview.

“It’s been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for myself and my loved ones.”

But how did Scott, referred to fondly as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, end up at this level?

Developing in non-league

His path in football has been far from a typical one.

He was part of four and a half years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, skipping school every Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the mainland so he could train and play for the club’s academy sides.

Prior to his 13th birthday, however, they decided to let him go. The Cherries gave him an option and he remained with them for a time, but, as he later admitted, his mind wasn’t fully committed.

Instead, he opted to stay on Guernsey and turn out for his hometown club.

“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling weekly was becoming overwhelming,” he recalled.

“All I desired to relax at my home with my friends at the weekend because I missed nearly several years of that experience. Getting that slice of youth again was a thing I definitely required.

“Building a bit of self-belief by coming back and taking part in island football was massive for me. It was probably the most crucial factors that led me where I am today.”

At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.

“I had trouble sleeping 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.

“People have witnessed that – his possession of the ball is outstanding, the manner he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”

Returning to the professional game

Championship side Bristol City – owned by islander Steve Lansdown – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a trial in December 2019.

“The whole experience was chaos,” recalled the player. “Day one I joined the youth team, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total shock.

“On the Wednesday I played for Guernsey FC in London, travelled back and on the Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and netted a hat-trick. From that point a done deal for me to sign a contract.”

Within 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against the Hatters.

Scott went on to make eighty-three league outings for the Robins while in his teens, frequently being used as a wide defender – and sometimes further forward as a number 10 – demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.

Thanks to his ability to drive the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he picked up the moniker ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a nod to Manchester City and England playmaker Jack Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the EFL Championship’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.

“Without question, I think he will represent his country and I think he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s manager at Ashton Gate, remarked last year.

Within 90 days later, he joined Bournemouth for a understood transfer fee of 25 million pounds.

Getting his major transfer

The midfielder endured a difficult first season with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then being in and out of the starting XI.

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

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

“That felt like almost another obstacle and it was shaping up as a pretty bad start for the first half.”

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 went on to win the competition in Slovakia, forming a formidable understanding in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has gone on to impress for the senior side under the national coach.

And he has started this season equally as strongly for Bournemouth, featuring in all matches to guide them to fifth in the table.

“Representing the national team would be among the most special occasions of my life,” Scott said earlier this season.

“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, getting better day on day, and with luck I catch the eye of the national coach and get my chance.”