Discover this Weekend League Team Boasting Over 1,800 Top-Flight Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Vets in a 6-2 victory versus Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you improve a stellar experienced side who have claimed consecutive titles, featuring a double triumph with 30 wins from thirty-two games?

Sign a collection of former professionals that have competed at the elite tier of club football and global football as you target further honors.

One Manchester team boasts an non-professional vets squad with 9 ex- Premier League footballers in their current roster.

222 Premier League Goals, 325 International Caps

The team Veterans Over 35s are based in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Premier Tier.

Their roster this season boasts 9 ex- top-flight players, with a collective over 1,800 elite appearances.

The star-studded team also contains over 220 Premier League scores and over 320 international appearances.

They feature Papiss Cisse, who scored thirty-seven scores in over 100 games for Newcastle United after joining them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in 2012.

He made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home match versus defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted all six scores in a 6-2 win - including a half-hour first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this campaign also includes ex- professionals such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- Premier League footballers have claimed fifteen significant trophies and moved for combined transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Famous Names and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He won 6 Irish appearances, netting 4 goals

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the side during pre-season this season through good mate and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the former Irish midfielder then asked other former professionals, who all play in a weekly small-sided game, to join in.

Ex- Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve scores in sixty-five top-flight matches for Everton and even now attends their home games, also had his first appearance versus the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and use an Everton warm-up gear as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
He featured for Everton between 2016 and 2020

"My mate Stephen Ireland said 'join and play, it's good fun'," said the striker.

"Then he told me we were playing a side from Liverpool and the shock I had when I saw them wearing Everton kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

"If you still love the game and you feel you can still do it, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

"Those fans who turn up and watch are pleased and to make someone's moment if they watch us playing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the joy of us having a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

So great is the squad depth at the club, he made his debut at defender.

"That's a little unusual but then, I love sprinting and just go forward - I'm not defending that much," he said.

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

"The running is what I'm looking for. It's enjoyable."

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is turning out for Wythenshawe

Unreal Feeling

Along with the forward's 6 scores on his first game, Ireland has netted 8 in three games for the side, while George Boyd scored five on his first appearance and Lescott, a defender by position, scored a triple in one game as a striker.

The team are top of the Premier Division with 3 victories from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for the opposition, faced former Latics defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in addition to playing in more than 200 Premier League matches.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had all these former top-flight stars," said Barrow.

"I felt I was a little awestruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

"Also Heskey came on and he's has 60-odd English caps.

"We held our own for a good 20 mins but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

"Our group really haven't ceased talking about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the journey home.

"The opponents were all friendly, shaking our hands after the game - it was like playing a group of regular guys.

"Now we are eager for the second fixture."

'We'll Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate vets side, who secured the Premier Tier championship the previous campaign, together with his co-manager.

"We scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Elaine Roy
Elaine Roy

A digital strategist with over a decade of experience in helping businesses leverage technology for growth and innovation.