Happy 21st birthday to Ellie Sandiford of the Nomads !

Ellisha (Ellie) Sandiford is 21 today!

Huge happy birthday wishes and many of them to the Connah’s Quay Nomads player from Grassroots North Wales.

Last season was Ellie’s first with the newly-formed Nomads, who finished runners-up in North Wales Division Two and went unbeaten in the league, as well as making it to the Welsh Cup semi-finals, knocking out Welsh Premier Port Talbot on the way.

Having played most of her career as a striker, Ellie was used in a central midfield/left wing position by Nomads coach Sara Hilton.

Hilton made it her mission to bring in top North Wales talent – and Ellie was one of her targets.

In previous seasons, Ellie had played for Prestatyn and in 2017-18 netted a very impressive 16 goals.

Born on January 14, 2000, Ellie spent the first year of her life in Gran Canaria and later lived in Manchester before moving to North Wales around 15 years ago. It was here that her football interest really developed, playing in infants school.

She later played for Rhyl Academy, where her highlight was beating Manchester City Girls.

Ellie played alongside a number of local girls who have gone on to make their mark in senior football, including current NFA and ex-Rhyl star Ashleigh Mills.

Ellie also had a later had a spell with Kinmel Bay Girls, where her talents further developed.

Renowned for her left-foot qualities, Ellie also has a knack for delivering top class passes.

Of her current team-mates, she rates highly the play of Tonicha Dickens and Rachel Nattrass, while also admiring Airbus’ Jade Scott, with whom she enjoyed a good partnership at Prestatyn.

Ellie, like all her Nomads team-mates, cannot wait for an opportunity to play again.

Although they have impressed in a couple of recent friendlies, Nomads. like all the North Wales Women’s League sides, have not featured in a competitive match since March last year due to coronavirus.

With a new coach now at the helm in Stephen Boyes, Ellie and the rest of the Nomads will be keen to make a big impact when (or if) the 2020-21 finally starts.

Nomads are an ambitious club, so it is a good place for the likes of Ellie to be.

With Wales in lockdown, the conditions are not ideal for Ellie to have the 21st birthday celebration she would have wanted.

Hopefully, this article on Grassroots North Wales will be some consolation.

All the best Ellie.