There is also a national football team and Ellan Vannin team, although they do not participate in UEFA or FIFA tournaments. The Isle of Man Football Association has the status of a County Football Association within the English Football Association so is therefore represented by the England national football team. People born in the Isle of Man are eligible to play for England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland In August 2019, it was announced that FC Isle of Man was investigating plans for a new club to be formed on the island which would join the English football league system. In December 2019, the club officially applied to join the North West Counties Football League, at Step 6 of the English non-league system. The league would then take the application to the Football Association with 'a recommendation that FC Isle of Man is accepted providing the appropriate criteria met by 31 March 2020'. Gymnastics The Isle of Man has very successful men's and women's gymnastics teams and individuals competing in European, Commonwealth and World level events. The Isle of Man Gymnastics Association sends selected gymnasts from local clubs including Ellan Vannin and Manx Gym to events such as the Commonwealth Games, Island Games, Northern Europeans, and Celtic Cup, where the island competes with national representation. Island gymnasts also compete in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and further afield at both Championship, Challenge or Graded level. The sport has a very large growing young population, with larger Douglas clubs Manx Gym and Ellan Vannin, and smaller clubs Southern Gymnastics and Northern Gymnastics, drawing from the schools and the kindergartens. Hockey There are many Manx hockey teams, with mixed, men's and ladies' leagues. The mixed league runs from September to December with the men's and ladies' leagues running from January to April. Each club has a nominated home pitch which is one of the National Sports Centres regional astro turf pitches. Bacchas, Vikings & Harlequins Hockey Clubs all play at the NSC in Douglas, Valkyrs Hockey Club play at the QEII High School in Peel, Castletown and Saracens Hockey Clubs play at Castle Rushen High School and Ramsey Hockey Club play at Ramsey Grammar School. The Manx Hockey Association (MHA) maintains live records of all league fixtures, results and scorers. The Isle of Man is also home to the annual Whit Hockey Festival. Held over the last weekend in May, the tournament welcomes