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When Alex Scott stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before just 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”

That statement proved to be a bit of an underestimation.

Today 22 years old and a Premier League regular with the Cherries, the playmaker has earned his maiden call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.

His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a true throwback, a journey seldom told in the modern era.

Next stop? A major tournament?

“In my mind, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, let alone playing in the top division and representing England too,” the player said in a recent interview.

“It has been a crazy five or six years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for myself and my loved ones.”

But in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?

Learning in non-league

His football journey has not been a conventional one.

He spent four and a half years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to fly from his island home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.

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

Instead, he opted to remain on Guernsey and turn out for his local team.

“My form had dipped and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.

“I just wanted to relax at my home with my mates at the weekend because I had missed almost four and a half years of that experience. Getting that little bit of youth again was something I definitely required.

“Building some self-belief by returning and taking part in island football was huge for me. That proved to be perhaps the most crucial things that led me where I am today.”

At the age of 16, the teenager became the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their Isthmian League match at Phoenix Sports.

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

“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s a class act.”

Making a comeback to the professional game

Second-tier club the Robins – chaired by islander their owner – had been tracking Scott’s early progress after an promising beginning in adult football and arranged a trial in December 2019.

“The whole experience was hectic,” recalled the player. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the second day I was with the first team, which was a total shock.

“Midweek I featured for Guernsey FC in the capital, returned home and by Friday, I took the field for the youth team and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a contract.”

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

He went on to make 83 league appearances for the club while in his teens, frequently being used as a wing-back – and occasionally in attack as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.

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

By the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign he claimed the second tier’s best young player award, was selected in the division’s team of the year and was voted the club’s top player and top youngster.

“Without question, I believe he’ll play for his country and I’m sure he’ll go on to the top of the game,” his former manager, Scott’s boss at the club, remarked previously.

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

Getting his major transfer

The midfielder experienced a challenging first season with the Cherries, having to wait until October to earn his top-flight debut after a knee problem in pre-season, and then finding himself in and out of the team.

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

“There was a decent run at the close of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained he.

“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 selected by England 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 matches as they went on to win the tournament in Slovakia, developing a strong partnership in midfield with Elliot Anderson, who himself has gone on to impress for the senior side under the national coach.

And he has started this season just as impressively for his club, playing in all matches to guide them to the top five in the standings.

“Representing the national team would be among the most special occasions of my career,” the player said recently.

“It’s down to me, I must continue developing as a footballer, keep enjoying the game, improving day on day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”