Introduce the Weekend League Team With Nearly Two Thousand English Top Division Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans during a 6-2 win against their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you improve a stellar experienced squad who have won consecutive championships, including a double triumph with thirty victories from thirty-two matches?

Bring in a raft of ex- pro players who have competed at the top tier of club football and global football as you pursue additional silverware.

One Greater Manchester side boasts an non-professional vets squad with nine former Premier League players in their active lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Appearances

The team Vets Over-35s are located in southern Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Top Tier.

Their lineup this season features 9 former top-flight footballers, with a combined over 1,800 elite matches.

This high-profile roster also includes over 220 top division scores and over 320 global caps.

The squad feature Papiss Cisse, who notched 37 goals in over 100 games for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their last home-field game versus reigning champions their rivals and scored all six scores in a 6-2 win - featuring a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's team for this season also includes ex- pros such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League players have won fifteen big honors and moved for combined transfer fees of around £123m.

Household Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won 6 Republic of Ireland caps, scoring 4 goals

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the team during pre-season this summer through close friend and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited additional ex-pros, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side match, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese striker Niasse, who scored 12 goals in 65 top-flight matches for Everton and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut versus Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and wear an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

"My mate Stephen Ireland told me 'come and play, it's good fun'," said Niasse.

"Then he told me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Everton kits - I thought this is strange for me!

"When you still enjoy the game and you feel you can still play, wherever you can play, what are you going to do?

"Those people who come and see are pleased and to make someone's day if they see us playing there and to pose us queries - it's more like the joy of us having somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

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

"That's a bit different but then, I love running and just go inside - I'm not defending that much," he said.

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

"That running is what I'm seeking. It's enjoyable."

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

Along with the forward's six scores on debut, Ireland has netted eight in three games for the side, while Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a triple in one match up front.

The team are leading of the Premier Division with three wins from three and a goal difference of +19.

Paul Barrow, 38, who plays on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against former Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to featuring in over 200 Premier League games.

"The news was going round like a rumor they had all these former top-flight stars," said Barrow.

"I think I was a little starstruck facing him to be honest.

"Also Emile [Heskey] came on and he's has 60-odd England appearances.

"Our side held our own for a solid 20 minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

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

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

"Now we are eager for the second fixture."

We Will Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate veterans team, who won the Top Division title last season, together with his co-manager.

"Our team went one-nil ahead and had a

William Berry
William Berry

Digital strategist with 15+ years in tech innovation, focusing on AI integration and sustainable business models across global markets.