Ellan Vannin football team official Isle of Man team (run by the Isle of Man FA), which is composed entirely of Isle of Man Football League players – regardless of nationality, Ellan Vannin will allow only those with Manx ties to play for them, in line with FIFA eligibility rules. Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the MIFA and Isle of Man FA, intended to set out a working relationship between the two organisations, the MIFA announced that the first international to be played by Ellan Vannin would be a home game against Monaco on 6 April 2014, to be played
SS Ellan Vannin (1854) by the steam tug "Sampson". Once aboard the party witnessed the launch of the steamer "Ethiope", the "Ellan Vannin" then steamed up the river as far as the Ince Lighthouse to meet the "Countess of Ellesmere". The "Countess" operating under the command of Captain Street, was brought up alongside the "Ellan Vannin", at that point full steam was given and both vessels raced away towards Garston. For a short time the "Countess" gained on the "Ellan Vannin" but soon both vessels came exactly abreast of each other. The race took twelve minutes to cover the 5 nautical miles to Garston,