Alex Scott - the 'Guernsey boy' playing for England

Then and now: Alex Scott made his debut for Guernsey FC as a 16-year-old before eventually ending up at AFC Bournemouth in the Premier Legaue

"He's a Guernsey boy at heart," says Tony Vance when asked about the most famous of his Guernsey FC players.

Vance gave Alex Scott his debut in the eighth tier of men's football as a 16-year-old, and less than six years later he is now in the England squad.

It has been a monumental rise for a midfielder who at first struggled juggling life between Guernsey and academy football at Southampton - so much so that he returned home as a young teenager with his dreams of becoming a professional seeminginly drifting away.

But Vance - who has managed Guernsey FC since they were founded in 2011 with the aim of exposing island players to a better standard of football in England - knew he had a star on his hands.

"He was just too good for us," he told BBC Guernsey after hearing the news of Scott's first call-up for England's games with Serbia and Albania later this month.

"He couldn't start playing with us until he was 16 because of the rules, so we couldn't wait for him to turn 16.

"When he trained with us it was obvious that he needed to be in the squad, and when he was in the squad it was obvious that he needed to start."

Scott would only play a handful of games for the Green Lions before being snapped up by Bristol City's academy. Owner Steve Lansdown lives in Guernsey and Scott has paved the way for a number of other island players to have a chance in the Robins' academy.

He starred for the Championship side, garnering the nickname of the "Guernsey Grealish" for his playing style and rolled down socks that were similar to the England and Manchester City winger who is currently on loan at Everton.

A big-money move to Bournemouth followed, and after overcoming injuries, Scott has established himself as one of the most promising young English midfielders in the Premier League.

Tony Vance gave Alex Scott his debut as a 16-year-old for Guernsey FC in November 2018

For Scott the call-up has proved to be a dream come true.

He told BBC Radio Guernsey earlier this season that his aim was to try and force his way into Thomas Tuchel's senior squad after helping England win the Under-21 European Championships in June.

"I've got to keep progressing as a footballer, keep enjoying football, improving day on day and hopefully I impress the England manager and get my chance," he said.

"Obviously it's a long way to go; I know that and I've got to improve a lot of things to get there, but fingers crossed I do that.

"I'm working very hard every single day and every game I play for this club.

"I've got to impress because the level of players in that England team at the minute is frightening, so it's going to be tough to get to that level and stay at that level."

It is now safe to say he has reached that level.

'He's a great person'

Guernsey's Maya Le Tissier made her England debut in November 2022

Scott is not the only England player from Guernsey - Maya le Tissier plays for the Lionesses and captains Manchester United's women's team.

She is in no doubt that he has what it takes to make it at the highest level, and hopefully emulate her and win the biggest honours internationally.

"Me and Alex are really close, we speak daily probably," she said.

"I'm very proud of how well he's done. He's playing really well for Bournemouth and fingers crossed he can make the next step in getting to the England team as well.

"He's a great player and a great person as well and so are his family."

Like Scott, Le Tissier was forced to leave Guernsey to pursue her dreams.

She joined Brighton and forced her way into their WSL side before making the move to Manchester United and captaining them in the Champions league.

She says they have shown that even from a small island with limited chances compared to mainland England, you can make it if you are determined and have the talent.

"The whole island has supported us and we always knew that everyone was hoping that we would do well and they'll support us no matter what and I feel like that's what it's been like," she said.

"We've had to be pretty resilient to be fair, not having that many opportunities to try and create our own, which is what we've done, and that is obviously with the help of our coaches back home and friends and family as well.

"They've been so supportive and we definitely couldn't have done it without them."

Alex Scott played 16 times for Guernsey FC before being snapped up by Bristol City

The island is working hard to give more opportunities to their star sports people to try and follow in the footsteps of Le Tissier and Scott.

This is Scott's first call-up, and there is no guarantee he will become the second Guernsey man to wear an England shirt after Matt Le Tissier.

But Vance feels his protege's dedication and talent could well be enough to see him stake a claim to go to next summer's World Cup in North America.

"We've got some incredible talent and I think everyone wants to be that football manager when it comes to England in the World Cup and Euros and pick their team," Vance said.

"We've got an abundance of talent so it's going to be hard for him, but he's got age on his side, he's got his opportunity to take that number eight shirt.

"It's going to is be really tough but if anyone can do it, judging by what he's done so far, I think he's got a tremendous chance and I back him all the way."