Discover the Weekend League Squad Boasting Nearly Two Thousand English Top Division Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Vets during a six-two win versus Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you boost a excellent veteran side who have secured back-to-back titles, featuring a double triumph boasting thirty wins from thirty-two matches?

Bring in a collection of ex- pro players who have performed at the top tier of club and global football as you target more silverware.

A Manchester side fields an non-professional vets team with nine former Premier League footballers in their active squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Goals, 325 International Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are based in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Vets League Premier Tier.

Their roster this season includes 9 former Premier League players, with a total 1,801 Premier League appearances.

This elite squad also includes over 220 top division goals and over 320 international appearances.

The squad feature one forward, who netted thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for his former club after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga side Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home-field game versus reigning champions their rivals and netted all six scores in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute opening period triple.

The team for this season also features former professionals such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the former top-flight footballers have secured fifteen big trophies and transferred for combined transfer sums of around £123 million.

Famous Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He won six Republic of Ireland caps, scoring four goals

Ireland started playing for the side during pre-season this summer through good friend and present team teammate Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited other ex-pros, who all play in a midweek small-sided game, to participate.

Ex- Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 goals in sixty-five top-flight games for the Toffees and still goes to their home games, also made his debut versus Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and use an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
He played for the club from 2016 and 2020

"A friend Stephen Ireland told me 'join and play, it's a laugh'," said Niasse.

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

"When you still love football and you know you can still play, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

"Those fans who turn up and see are pleased and to make someone's moment if they watch us competing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the joy of us having a place we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, he had his debut at defender.

"It's a little unusual but then, I love running and just move forward - I'm not defending that much," he added.

"I warn my centre-back 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to keep running.

"That running is what I'm looking for. It's good fun."

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for the team

'Surreal Experience

Along with Cisse's 6 scores on debut, Ireland has scored eight in 3 appearances for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored 5 on his debut match and Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a triple in one match as a striker.

The team are top of the Premier Tier with three victories from 3 and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the wing for the opposition, faced ex- Wigan defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

He has appeared at 2 global tournaments for his country, in addition to playing in over 200 Premier League games.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had these former top-flight players," remarked the player.

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

"Even Heskey came on and he's got over 60 England caps.

"Our side held our own for a good twenty minutes but then we had a man dismissed and it was hard.

"Our group literally haven't ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the journey home.

"They were all friendly, shaking our hands after the match - it was like playing a bunch of regular guys.

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

We Will Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate veterans side, who secured the Top Division championship the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"We scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Nancy Phelps
Nancy Phelps

Emma Voss is a tech enthusiast and lifestyle blogger with a passion for exploring new ideas and sharing practical insights.