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Ella, Katie and Clara, Vagabonds ladies rugby team

Ella, Katie and Clara are three of the newest members of Vagabonds ladies’ rugby team. They each had different reasons for relocating to the Isle of Man but their shared passion for rugby has given them an instant Island family.

Ella Goodwin: ‘Sunny day, ice cream and crab bap were the decider’

Having been born and grown up in Brighton, Ella has always loved to be by the sea. She moved to London when she was 19 to study Education, Culture and Society at Goldsmiths, University of London. It was on the same course that she met her future husband, Theo, who is from the north of the Island.

 

‘When I first met Theo, I didn't even know the Isle of Man existed,’ she admits. ‘The Spanish guys I worked with at a tapas restaurant in London told me where the Isle of Man was due to knowing the TT.’ After graduating, Ella and Theo considered staying in London or returning to Brighton but after a couple of visits to the Isle of Man they made the move to Ramsey in September 2019. ‘A sunny day in Peel, with a Davison's ice cream and a crab bap was the decider, after four stressful years of London life,’ Ella says.

It took self-confessed home girl Ella a bit of time to settle into Island life, with Covid making it more difficult to get out and make friends. She has now built up a strong friendship circle and works in sales and marketing for Island radio station 3FM. After building up the courage to pick up rugby again, she joined Vagabonds. ‘The girls at Vagabonds have been a beacon of positivity, welcoming me with open arms, and basically acting as an Island family,’ she says. ‘It's given me a confidence in myself I was missing, that has helped with manoeuvring Island life and opportunities to travel to places in the north of England I wouldn't ever go to. I've made best friends and found an inclusive club who will help foster a talent you didn't think you had.’

‘The girls at Vagabonds have been a beacon of positivity, welcoming me with open arms, and basically acting as an Island family,’

Ella Goodwin

Ella and Theo have bought their own home and live with their cat in Ramsey, close to both Mooragh Park and the sea. It’s not known for its party atmosphere like Brighton but Ella says: ‘Ramsey has a great selection of local pubs, small independent shops and restaurants and at the weekend, fantastic local bands, and musicians. Location-wise, we couldn't be luckier, and we most definitely wouldn't be able to afford this in Brighton,’ she says.

 

Ella says the Isle of Man has lived up to expectations: ‘Its beauty still gets me every day. I love that I can always see the hills and the sea in one view. ‘You have to be ready to live outdoors, and accept that you will need sun cream, waterproofs and a scarf all in the same day. I am never tired of exploring new places, and even on a lazy day in the garden, I love that I can hear boats, wild geese and people walking over the bridge all at once.’

Read our Moving Yourself to the Isle of Man Guide

Here!

Katie Clifford - ‘I’m already planning how to stay longer’

After graduating from Brighton and Sussex Medical School last summer, Katie Clifford moved to the Isle of Man to take up a two-year foundation programme at Noble’s Hospital. All UK medical school graduates complete the programme and are allocated a job after ranking their top areas.

Katie, who is originally from Durham, says: ‘I fortunately got my top choice of job.’ Katie was attracted by the unparalleled training opportunities, on-site accommodation and financial incentive. ‘I feel very, very fortunate to have been given opportunities to be involved in air ambulance transfers, major trauma training, and hands-on anaesthetic experience which is very rare in other training locations,’ she says.

Katie was also drawn to the outdoors way of life, the countryside and the opportunity to get out on the water. ‘I love paddleboarding, swimming, running, walking and the Island is perfect for that,’ she says. ‘It’s all so close that even after finishing work we have the time to sunset paddleboard etc.’

  

Katie says she has had no problems settling in. She describes fellow hospital staff as ‘extremely friendly’. And she has received a warm welcome from Vagabonds. ‘Moving over knowing nobody was a massive gamble and it's really paid off. They could not be more supportive or welcoming,’ Katie says. ‘If I ever have any questions about life on-Island someone at the club will know the answer and will always help.’ She says the club is a big part of her social life on the Island, adding: ‘From post-match beers in the clubhouse to group seafront runs/swims and family fun days they cater for everyone!’. Katie has another 14 months on the Island before she completes her two-year foundation programme. She is already planning a way to either return or stay longer-term.

‘If I ever have any questions about life on-Island someone at the club will know the answer and will always help.’ She says the club is a big part of her social life on the Island, adding: ‘From post-match beers in the clubhouse to group seafront runs/swims and family fun days they cater for everyone!’

Katie Clifford

Clara Townsin - ‘Island is the ideal package while studying’

  

Clara Townsin graduated from Birmingham City University with a degree in accounting and finance and returned to her home in Epsom, Surrey, while looking for graduate jobs. Keen to get out of London, she says her attention was drawn to a job at accounting firm Moore Stephens, based in the Island’s capital Douglas. It includes a training programme to become an ACA chartered accountant. She moved to the Isle of Man in 2021 and lives in Douglas. 

‘When I was a kid, my parents moved over to the Isle of Man because of their jobs so I wasn’t a stranger to the Island and we then moved to Jersey after a couple years so again Island life wasn’t really a new thing for me,’ she says. ‘I thought it would be a bit of fun so I packed and moved over. I’m still here two years on and not planning on moving anytime soon.’

  

Clara fell in love with playing rugby at school and then played at university. She knew it would be a great way to make friends when she made the move. ‘When moving to the Island knowing you don’t have any friends there and you’re starting from scratch, it can be very daunting,’ Clara says. ‘The first thing on my mind was joining a rugby team! They took me in and just like that, I just acquired so many great friends.’

  

Clara says she feels ‘incredibly lucky’ to have the work-life balance she has created. ‘I have a decent job with a training programme, the sea is right on my doorstep with amazing walks and hikes in the countryside, the locals are friendly and there’s plenty of pubs and restaurants to unwind,’ she says. ‘It’s like the ideal package especially when studying.’

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