Ex-WSL youngsters aim to fire Gwalia to promotion

Daisy Ackerman and Ellie-Mai Sanford’s football careers have been shaped by their time in high-level English academies.

The versatile Ackerman and defender Sanford spent time at Bristol City as youngsters, with Ackerman going on to Arsenal while Sanford built her career in the United States.

Now reunited in south Wales, they hope to help Gwalia United secure promotion back to National League South Division.

And it has been a promising start in England’s fourth tier, with Gwalia unbeaten in their first four outings following Molly Kehoe’s second goal in as many games to salvage a 1-1 draw at tier-three side Cheltenham in the League Cup on Thursday.

Sanford, from Pontypool, came through Bristol City where she trained alongside former Wales star Loren Dykes and current international Gemma Evans.

And having represented Wales through the age-grades, the 24-year-old hopes to emulate her former team-mates and earn a senior call-up.

“I’d take it any day, it would mean a lot,” Sanford said.

As a teenager, Sanford moved to Texas on a football scholarship, combining her studies with playing college football for San Antonio.

“It was amazing. I would do it all again,” she said.

But for now she is focused on Gwalia and is optimistic about the club’s chances of promotion.

“We just start as we mean to carry on,” she said.

“Winning the league and getting back up to tier three where we should be is obviously the main goal.”

Sanford is joined in the squad by Bristol-born Ackerman, who came through Arsenal’s academy.

Ackerman, who feels Arsenal are “definitely capable” of big things this season, played against Chelsea at the Emirates in 2021, rubbing shoulders with stars such as Jordan Nobbs, Katie McCabe and Frida Maanum.

“To play with those players was absolutely insane,” Ackerman said.

“The things they taught us were just amazing. I’m really glad I got to experience that.”

The 23-year-old also played for Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham Town and Oxford United before joining Gwalia in 2025. Though she is currently injured, she will hope to use her experience across top level clubs to catalyse Gwalia’s promotion push.