For a club with ambitions of reaching the Women’s Super League’s second tier (WSL 2) by 2030, Gwalia United’s relegation last season to the fourth tier of English women’s football looks a significant setback.
Yet there is a belief at the Welsh club that taking one step in the wrong direction can ultimately help take them forward.
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This Sunday (14:00 GMT) brings the chance for Gwalia to show they are making progress once more, as they target an upset against Oxford United in the Women’s FA Cup second round.
The U’s are top of the division Gwalia dropped out of last season, and so are within sight of WSL 2.
In short, they are where Gwalia want to be, and will start as favourites to seal a round-three place at USW Sport Park.
Yet for Gwalia, the cup brings a chance for what would be a statement victory.
“It takes a lot of pressure off us because people from the outside looking in probably don’t expect us to do a lot,” says captain Cerys Jones
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“It’s a good opportunity to challenge ourselves.”
Relegation ‘hit us hard’
Gwalia will have beaten AFC Stoneham and Yate Town in this season’s Women’s FA Cup [Benjamin Brain Photography]
Gwalia, who were formerly known as Cardiff City Ladies, have a proud history of developing Welsh talent.
Stars such as Jess Fishlock, Sophie Ingle, Ffion Morgan, Gemma Evans and Lily Woodham played for the club before going on to represent Wales.
And after co-owners Julian Jenkins and Canva founder Damien Singh got involved before the 2024-25 season, there was hope of keeping some of that emerging talent within Wales while allowing Gwalia to compete at a higher level.
However, making progress has not been easy, even if last season’s relegation from the Southern Premier Division was the result of fine margins.
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Gwalia finished with the same goal difference as AFC Wimbledon, but were relegated as the London club had scored one more goal.
“It hit us hard, it really did,” says manager Cori Williams-Mills.
Gwalia are currently fourth in Division One South West, having lost only one of their eight league games so far this season.
The average age of the squad is just 20, and Williams-Mills believes her youthful team can not only return to the third tier but go on to reach new heights.
“When we get back up, we’ll be better equipped than we would have been if we’d stayed [up],” she adds.
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“Sometimes taking a step back can help push you further forward.
“We ended last year a little disappointed. This season, the girls have been excellent.
“Is it going to take us time to get where we want to be? Is it going to be hard along the way? Yeah, of course it is, but we’ll get there.”
Williams-Mills’ confidence is shared throughout the squad.
Jones argues relegation has done little to dampen belief in Gwalia’s long-term ambitions.
“A lot of us believe in the club and where the club wants to go,” she says.
“This season we’ve got a real chance to prove what we’re made of and show that we can compete.”
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Gwalia’s qualities are sure to be examined by an Oxford side who are unbeaten in the league this season.
Recent history favours the visitors, with Oxford winning the past four meetings of the two clubs, scoring 12 goals along the way and conceding just once.
But if they can pull off a shock, Gwalia would be a step closer to facing fully professional opposition, with WSL 2 clubs entering the cup in round three and WSL sides in round four.
“I truly believe this could be a really good opportunity to go make some memories,” reckons Williams-Mills.
“We know how difficult Oxford will be, especially given the form they’re in, but it’s the magic of the cup and a chance for us to express ourselves.”
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United are the only Welsh representatives in the Women’s FA Cup, something Williams-Mills says brings a “lot of pride”.
As well as exposure, the cup offers financial incentives, with Gwalia set to earn at least £4,000 regardless of the result against Oxford.
“It’s in the next round that the money gets really big, so for us to get there would be really good,” Williams-Mills says.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
