Vagabonds (Isle of Man) Rugby Union Football Club – ‘Vagas’ – was formed in 1965 as Douglas High School Old Boys by school master John Timson. The side was originally made up of current and former Douglas High School pupils and the name Vagabonds was quickly adopted as befitting a club which had no ground of its own, and took the field in a variety of kit before adopting the gold and black hoops which are now the second team colours. The current first team strip was first worn in the 1968-69 season.
In the early years, nearly all fixtures were against Douglas, Ronaldsway or King William’s College, with only the occasional touring side. However this led, in the late 70s and mid 80s, to a full fixture list of touring sides. In the 1989-90 season, the Club was accepted in to the bottom Division of the Courage League and emerged as champions despite having to play all its games away from home. Progress since then has been steadily upwards and Vagabonds won the North West 2 League in the 1995-96 season to gain promotion to North West 1. The season 1998-99, however, saw Vagabonds demotion to North West 2 again. Since the reorganisation of the leagues for the 1999-2000 season Vagabonds now play in South Lancs/Cheshire 1.
The
1974-75 season saw Vagabonds become the first holders of the newly created Manx
Shield and also the Club’s 10th Anniversary, when the Cheshire
County XV played an Island side to commemorate the occasion. The following
season, 1975-76, saw Vagas first foray in to the Cheshire Cup, which lasted two
away rounds, before succumbing to the eventual semi-finalists, Old Sandbachians.
During
those early years fixtures were played, courtesy of Douglas Rugby Club, mainly
at Kirby Park and Port-e-Chee. From
1974 to 1978 the Club moved to Castle Rushen High School and in 1978 to
Noble’s Park.
The
Club’s present Glencrutchery Road ground, adjacent to the famed T.T.
Grandstand, was inaugurated on 18th October 1980, with valuable
assistance from the Isle of Man Sport’s Council – it is now considered one
of the best playing surfaces around. An Isle of Man Invitation XV, including three British Lions
Internationals – club member Dave ‘Piggy’ Powell, guests Mike Burton and
John Spencer, played Vagabonds in the presence of a large crowd, including the
Lieutenant Governor of the day Sir Nigel Cecil.
Around
1980 former Northampton and England International prop forward, David
“Piggy” Powell came to live in the Isle of Man.
He introduced what 1996-97 season 1st XV Captain Simon Murray thinks has
been the single biggest factor, to date, in Vagabonds’ success – a coaching
strategy. This has been continued through Pete Brown, Viv Smith, Dusty Miller, Chris Till,
Ian Forrest and currently Dave Topping.
Over
the years Vagas have undertaken some notable fund-raising and charity events
such as –
Carrying
a set of rugby posts from the Sea Terminal to the summit of Snaefell
mountain
Pulling
a mini car around most of the T.T. Course, retiring at the Ramsey Hairpin!
Charity
football match against the 70’s group ‘Hot Chocolate’
Declaring
U.D.I. (unilateral declaration of independence) on Conister Rock (The Tower
of Refuge)
Organising
two sell-out concerts for the Irish group ‘The Dubliners’ at the Palace
Lido
Organising
and running the Douglas Fair and Manx Tug of War Championship
Running
against the Manx Electric Railway tram from Douglas to Ramsey
Our
latest fund-raiser for Club funds – the Easter Rugby Festival
It
is a nigh impossible task to list everyone who has contributed their time,
effort and money to help the Vagabonds cause.
Included are all the players over the years, patrons, life members,
sponsors and other friends of the Club - Thank you all!