Welsh teen’s inspiring journey from Llwyngwril to Chelsea FC

Cadi, a 17-year-old who also represents Wales at Under-19 level, said, “It was a big move moving from Wales to the heart of London – it's very different. It was daunting, but I was also excited to take the next step in my football career.”

Cadi’s footballing journey began in the towns near her home village, supported by the kind of grassroots investment The National Lottery has championed since 1994. Her story embodies the transformational impact of 30 years of National Lottery investment in women's and girls' sport and illustrates how £6.8BN in grassroots funding has helped build pathways from local pitches to international stages.

After starting at CPI Bro Dysynni in Tywyn, Cadi joined CPD Merched Porthmadog's Under-12s team, a move that proved pivotal to her development. She said, “I think that is an important age to develop and improve as a football player and progress from there. The coaching and training I received then helped me a lot.”

From those early days in North Wales, Cadi progressed through the FAW (Football Association of Wales) talent pathways. She isn’t exactly sure how she got on Chelsea’s radar, but suspects FAW provided the “shop window” she needed to display her footballing skills.

She said, “I used to play for the FAW's North Wales team and train at Colliers Park. I think the FAW played a role there in giving me exposure, so I need to give a big thanks to them.”

The ‘shop window’ that put her on the fast track to elite football was made possible by The National Lottery's strategic investment in the Welsh game. In 2024/25 alone, Welsh women's and girls' football was supported by more than £330,000 in National Lottery funding, helping the FAW double its investment in the women's and girls' game over the past four years.

The National Lottery’s investment has been foundational to Wales' historic qualification for UEFA Women's Euro 2025, the national team’s first-ever major women's tournament.

Cadi’s move to Chelsea – one of the most successful clubs in English women's football – is a huge step. Chelsea have won a record eight Women's Super League championships and six Women's FA Cup titles, establishing themselves as a dominant force in the game.

In her first season, Cadi made six appearances for the club, including a memorable friendly game in Lisbon she describes as a “fantastic experience.”

The competitive environment at Chelsea has been a learning curve for the Welsh teenager as she’s surrounded by talented players vying for their place in one of Europe's elite teams. Cadi said, “The biggest thing I've learnt at Chelsea being surrounded by all these quality players is that it's up to you to create your own path and make what you can of the opportunities that you have. It's definitely more competitive than playing with your mates at your local grassroots club because everyone there is competing against each other.”

Now in her second season, Cadi is determined to build on her experiences and push for more regular first-team football. Her immediate goals remain focused on club and country, with the senior Welsh women's team firmly in her sights. She said, “For the future, I'm looking to get a really good season with Chelsea - better than the previous season – and to carry on performing for the club. “I've only got one season left with the Wales Under-19s team, so I'd like to think after that I will be pushing and competing for a space in the senior Welsh women's team.”

Photo credit (main image): FA Wales

29th June 2025