Introduce this Weekend Division Team With Over 1,800 Premier League Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Vets in a six-two victory versus their opponents on 19 October (left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you boost a stellar veteran squad who have won consecutive championships, featuring a league-cup double with thirty victories from thirty-two games?

Recruit a group of ex- professionals who have performed at the highest tier of club and international football as you aim for further trophies.

One Manchester team fields an amateur vets squad with 9 ex- Premier League footballers in their present lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Appearances

The team Vets Over-35s are situated in south the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Top Tier.

The lineup this season includes nine ex- top-flight footballers, with a total nearly 1,800 top-flight games.

This star-studded team also includes 222 top division goals and 325 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who scored thirty-seven scores in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home game against defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted all six goals in a 6-2 win - featuring a half-hour first-half triple.

The roster for this season also includes ex- pros such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the ex- top-flight footballers have claimed fifteen big honors and moved for total transfer fees of approximately £123m.

Well-Known Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He won 6 Irish caps, netting four goals

Ireland began turning out for the side in pre-season this summer through close mate and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then invited additional former professionals, who all compete in a weekly nine-a-side game, to participate.

Former Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve scores in sixty-five top-flight games for Everton and still attends their home games, also had his debut against Collegiate OB - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse featured for the club between 2016 and 2020

"My friend Stephen Ireland said 'come and have a game, it's a laugh'," commented Niasse.

"After that he informed me we were facing a team from the city and the shock I had when I saw them sporting Everton shirts - I thought this is wrong for me!

"If you still enjoy the game and you know you can still do it, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to do?

"Those people who turn up and watch are pleased and to make a day if they see us playing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the joy of us getting somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

Such is the bench strength at Wythenshawe, he made his debut at full-back.

"That's a little different but then, I enjoy running and just go forward - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

"I warn my defender 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to continue attacking.

"The running is what I'm seeking. It's good fun."

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

Unreal Experience

In addition to the forward's 6 goals on debut, Ireland has netted 8 in three appearances for the side, while George Boyd scored 5 on his debut match and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Tier with 3 wins from three and a GD of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for the opposition, faced ex- Wigan defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young son who Emile Heskey was.

He has appeared at 2 World Cups for his country, in addition to playing in over 200 top-flight games.

"It was going round like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League players," said the player.

"I think I was a bit awestruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

"Even Emile [Heskey] got on and he's got over 60 English caps.

"We held our own for a solid twenty minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

"We really haven't stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mother and sibling on the journey home.

"They were all friendly, shaking our hands after the game - it was like facing a bunch of normal fellas.

"Now we can't wait for the return match."

'We'll Still Take the League'

The manager manages the opposition veterans side, who won the Top Tier title the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went one-nil up and had a

Dylan Brown
Dylan Brown

A passionate storyteller and digital nomad sharing insights from years of blogging across diverse niches.