Discover this Weekend League Squad With Nearly Two Thousand Top-Flight Matches

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

How can you boost a excellent experienced squad that have secured back-to-back titles, including a double triumph with 30 victories from thirty-two games?

Sign a collection of ex- professionals who have played at the top tier of club and global football as you pursue further silverware.

One Greater Manchester club has an amateur vets team with 9 ex- top-flight players in their present squad.

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

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

The lineup this campaign features nine ex- top-flight footballers, with a total 1,801 elite appearances.

The star-studded squad also contains 222 Premier League scores and over 320 global appearances.

They include one forward, who scored 37 scores in over 100 games for Newcastle United after joining them for nine million pounds from German league side Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their last home match against reigning title holders Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six goals in a six-two victory - featuring a half-hour opening period triple.

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

Collectively, the ex- Premier League footballers have secured 15 major trophies and transferred for combined transfer fees of around £123 million.

Household Figures and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring 4 goals

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the side in pre-season this summer through good friend and current team player Blake Norton, and the former Irish player then asked other ex-pros, who all play in a weekly small-sided match, to join in.

Ex- Senegal forward Niasse, who netted 12 scores in 65 top-flight games for Everton and even now goes to their home games, also made his first appearance versus the opposition - who are located in the city and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"My mate Stephen Ireland told me 'join and play, it's a laugh'," said the striker.

"After that he informed me we were facing a side from Liverpool and the shock I had when I noticed them sporting Blue shirts - I say this is strange for me!

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

"The people who come and watch are happy and to make a moment if they watch us competing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the joy of us having somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the strength in depth at the club, he had his debut at full-back.

"That's a bit different but then, I love sprinting and just move forward - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

"I tell my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to continue running.

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa is turning out for the team

Unreal Experience

Along with Cisse's six scores on debut, Ireland has scored 8 in 3 games for the side, while Boyd hit five on his first appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Top Division with three wins from 3 and a goal difference of +19.

One opponent, 38, who features on the flank for the opposition, came up against former Latics full-back Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old boy who Heskey was.

He has appeared at two global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to playing in more than 200 top-flight matches.

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

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

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

"Our side competed well for a solid twenty minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

"We literally have not ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the journey home.

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

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

'We'll Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate vets side, who secured the Top Division championship last season, along with his co-manager.

"Our team went 1-0 ahead and had a

Karen Stevenson
Karen Stevenson

A passionate gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering indie and AAA titles across multiple platforms.