Ackerley played hooker in Halifax's 14–24 defeat by St. Helens in the Championship Final during the 1952–53 season.
He also captained the side in the 4–4 draw with Warrington in the 1954 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London, on Saturday 24 April 1954, and also played in the replay (which Halifax lost 4–8) at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Wednesday 5 May 1954, in front of a record crowd of 102,575 or more.
[5] Ackerley played hooker, and was captain in Halifax's 22–14 victory over Hull in the 1954 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1954–55 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 23 October 1954.
During the 1955–56 season, he played in the 10–10 draw with Hull in the 1955 Yorkshire Cup Final at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 22 October 1955, and the 7-0 victory in the replay at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Wednesday 2 November 1955.
Ackerley won caps for England while at Halifax in 1952 against Other Nationalities (2 matches), and Wales, in 1953 against France (2 matches), and Wales,[2] and won caps for Great Britain while at Halifax in 1952 against Australia, and in 1958 against New Zealand.