Bournemouth and England’s Alex Scott has opened up about his journey from playing Non-League football in Guernsey, to being selected for the national squad in the final round of qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
00:00Bournemouth's Alex Scott has opened up about his meteoric rise from playing non-league football in Guernsey
00:08to now being selected for the England national team in their final set of World Cup qualifiers
00:13ahead of the World Cup in Canada, America and Mexico in 2026.
00:19Yeah, obviously, over the moon, it's everything you dream for.
00:24Back then, like you said, six years ago, I was playing non-league football for Guernsey.
00:30And yeah, I wasn't even sure I was going to make it as a football player.
00:32So to now be in the England senior team, it's a dream come true.
00:36And yeah, I'm just grateful for all the coaches, my family and everyone who's almost helped me get to this point today.
00:43You wear the number eight on your back for Bournemouth, of course, but you have played a little bit deeper.
00:48You played as a six as well. It's a big discussion we're having around the England set up right now.
00:52Who's a six, who's an eight? Which do you prefer? Which do you think you're best suited to?
00:56To be honest, I probably prefer playing as a number eight.
00:59I feel like you can do a bit more of everything, but to be honest, wherever I'm put, I'm more than happy to play.
01:05Like you said, I've played six before in the Euros. I was a little bit deeper and Elliot was further forward.
01:10I've played as a number 10. So it's almost it's good to have, you know, maybe all three of them positions where you feel comfortable and you feel you can play.
01:18But for me, I'd say my preferred position is a number eight.
01:21Hi, Alex. You just mentioned it there that you played with Elliot before in the 21s.
01:29How much do you think that experience of playing in a high pressurised situation in a tournament will help you coming into this England squad?
01:37Yeah, for sure. It's going to help. And it's obviously good that, you know, played with Elliot.
01:40Yeah, I knew a few of the other boys as well through tournaments and in the younger age group.
01:44So, you know, all of them sorts of things help.
01:48I think, yeah, obviously it was high pressure going into that tournament, especially with what the previous group done.
01:52And, you know, they went and won it. So, yeah, there was a lot of pressure on us to do so.
01:56And, yeah, of course, we delivered. But, yeah, it's been good. I've been in the England South now since I was 18.
02:03So it's familiar for me, you know, coming away with the team. So it's been easy to almost settle in.
02:10It's always a good time to break into the England squad, but now is probably one of the best, the last squad of the year.
02:16And then just one count before Thomas Tuchel will name the squad for the World Cup.
02:20Have you allowed yourself to dream of maybe making that squad and being there next summer?
02:24Yeah, to be honest, I don't think it's really, you know, sunk in too much yet.
02:28Obviously, that's the dream for everyone, especially the players here, is to be in that World Cup squad.
02:35But to be honest, I just want to come in, you know, show up, show up on my bout and show the coaches here and what I can do and how I can play in an England shirt.
02:43So, you know, I'm just grateful for the opportunity to be here.
02:46Of course, the World Cup is definitely a dream of mine. And, you know, I've just got to take it one step at a time.
02:50You know, enjoy this week now. If I get the chance to play, hopefully impress and show what I'm capable of.
02:57Congratulations. Irola, obviously full of praise for you.
03:01I remember the Manchester City-Bristol City match in which Pep Guardiola said you were unbelievable in 2019,
03:09but three different knee injuries in two seasons.
03:13How bleak did you start to feel about your career and who helped you get through that?
03:19Yeah, it was it was definitely difficult.
03:22You know, obviously I had a great time at Bristol City where, you know, suffered no injuries whatsoever.
03:27I played, you know, most of the games there and then you finally get your dream move to the Premier League.
03:31And as soon as you go in, you're out for two, three months.
03:34So, you know, that was tough to take. And then, you know, almost since then, it's been injury on injury.
03:40I had obviously the bad knee injury last year and, you know, things are starting to look on the up.
03:44And then I go and break my jaw the last game of the season.
03:48So it's been tough. The injuries have been tough.
03:50I've had great people around me, obviously my family being number one.
03:53And, you know, all the staff at Bournemouth, my friends as well, you know,
03:58just getting around me and making sure I'm OK at all times and pushing me, to be honest.
04:02Yeah, the club were brilliant. You know, anyone there I could, you know, speak to if I, you know,
04:08was feeling down or not feeling great at all.
04:10So, yeah, they definitely helped there. But at times it was definitely tough.
04:14And, you know, I'm glad I've come out the other end and finally getting a run of games with no injuries.
04:19That's the most important thing. I'm just happy to be, you know, playing football again.
04:23Certainly taking your chance. An outstanding season.
04:26It's quite a commute, though, from Guernsey.
04:27So is it a special moment for you and your sister over those many journeys that you made to St. George's Park,
04:34having a lioness on your team? How much has that helped you and how happy are they all for you now?
04:38Yeah, I mean, you know, growing up, we would fly over every weekend together.
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