Daisy Ackerman and Ellie-Mai Sanford have built their football foundations through elite English academies, and now the pair are reunited in south Wales with ambitions to drive Gwalia United back to the third tier.
Both players came through Bristol City's youth system before pursuing different paths at higher levels. Ackerman progressed to Arsenal's academy, while Sanford developed her game across the Atlantic on a college football scholarship. Now, as members of Gwalia's squad, they represent a blend of domestic pedigree and international experience that the club hopes will fuel a promotion campaign.
Gwalia's start to the 2026-27 season has been encouraging. According to a national broadcaster's report, the club won their opening two league matches, defeating Ascot United 6-0 and Bournemouth Sports 1-0. That unbeaten run continued on 27 August 2026 when Molly Kehoe's goal secured a 1-1 draw in a League Cup tie at Cheltenham Town, a tier-three side. Kehoe has now scored in consecutive matches for the club.
How did Sanford's path lead her to Wales?
Sanford, a 24-year-old defender from Pontypool, trained alongside former Wales international Loren Dykes and current national team player Gemma Evans during her time at Bristol City. She represented Wales through the age-grades and harbours ambitions of earning a senior call-up to the national squad.
As a teenager, Sanford moved to Texas on a football scholarship, where she combined her studies with playing college football for San Antonio.
It was amazing. I would do it all again,she reflected on that experience. However, her focus now is firmly on Gwalia's objectives.
We just start as we mean to carry on. Winning the league and getting back up to tier three where we should be is obviously the main goal,Sanford said.
What is Ackerman's background in elite football?
Ackerman, 23, grew up in Bristol and progressed through Arsenal's academy, where she gained exposure to some of the club's leading players. In 2021, she featured against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, playing alongside established internationals including Jordan Nobbs, Katie McCabe and Frida Maanum.
To play with those players was absolutely insane. The things they taught us were just amazing. I'm really glad I got to experience that,Ackerman said. She believes Arsenal remain
definitely capableof achieving significant success this season.
Before joining Gwalia in 2025, Ackerman played for Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham Town and Oxford United, accumulating experience across multiple levels of English football. Though currently sidelined by injury, she is expected to contribute her knowledge of top-level competition to Gwalia's promotion push once fit.
What does Gwalia's recent record tell us?
The club's promotion ambitions come after a difficult previous campaign. According to a national broadcaster's report, Gwalia collected just 22 points in their last league season, securing only six wins from 22 matches. That poor return saw them finish outside the promotion places in the fourth tier.
The 6-0 victory over Ascot United and the subsequent 1-0 win against Bournemouth Sports represent a marked improvement in output. According to a national broadcaster's report, Molly Kehoe scored the decisive goal in the Bournemouth match, with Rosie Eden missing a late penalty for the visitors. These results suggest the squad has the quality to compete at this level.
What lies ahead for Gwalia?
Gwalia's next fixture is a league match away to Torquay United Women on 30 August 2026, offering an immediate opportunity to extend their unbeaten run. The club's partnership with the University of South Wales, announced in August 2025, has provided stability, with the senior women's team now training and playing home matches at USW Sport Park in Treforest.
With Ackerman and Sanford bringing experience from higher levels of the game, and Kehoe demonstrating clinical finishing, Gwalia have assembled a squad capable of mounting a genuine promotion challenge. Success would represent a significant turnaround from the previous season's struggles and restore the club to tier-three football.
