Introduce the Weekend League Team Boasting 1,800 English Top Division Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Vets during a 6-2 victory versus their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you boost a outstanding experienced side that have won consecutive titles, including a league-cup double boasting thirty wins from thirty-two matches?

Sign a group of ex- professionals who have played at the elite level of club and global soccer as you aim for additional silverware.

A Greater Manchester club has an non-professional vets squad with nine ex- Premier League footballers in their present roster.

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

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are located in southern Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Vets League Top Division.

Their squad list this campaign features 9 former top-flight players, with a total over 1,800 Premier League matches.

This elite roster also includes 222 top division scores and over 320 international caps.

They include Papiss Cisse, who scored thirty-seven scores in 117 games for Newcastle United after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse had his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their most recent home-field game against defending title holders their rivals and netted every one of the six goals in a six-two win - featuring a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

The squad for this campaign also features ex- pros such as English and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight players have claimed fifteen big honors and transferred for combined transfer fees of approximately £123 million.

Household Figures and Global Stars

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

Stephen Ireland began playing for the side during pre-season this season through good friend and current Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then invited additional former professionals, who all play in a midweek small-sided match, to join in.

Ex- Senegal forward Niasse, who netted twelve goals in 65 Premier League games for Everton and even now goes to their home games, also had his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Everton training kit as their strip.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse played for Everton between 2016 and 2020

"My friend Stephen told me 'join and play, it's good fun'," commented the striker.

"Then he informed me we were facing a team from Liverpool and the shock I had when I saw them wearing Blue kits - I say this is wrong for me!

"If you still enjoy football and you know you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to choose?

"Those people who turn up and see are pleased and to give someone's day if they see us competing there and to pose us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us getting a place we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the squad depth at the club, he made his debut at full-back.

"It's a little unusual but then, I love sprinting and just go inside - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

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

"That movement is what I'm seeking. It's good fun."

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to the forward's 6 goals on his first game, Ireland has netted 8 in three games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored five on his debut match and Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

Wythenshawe are top of the Premier Division with three victories from 3 and a GD of +19.

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the flank for the opposition, came up against former Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to playing in more than two hundred Premier League matches.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had these former top-flight players," said the player.

"I think I was a bit starstruck playing against Figueroa to be honest.

"Also Heskey got on and he's got over 60 English appearances.

"Our side held our own for a good 20 mins but then we had a man sent off and it was hard.

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

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

"Now we are eager for the return fixture."

'We'll Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition veterans side, who won the Top Tier championship last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went one-nil ahead and had a

Jackie Pittman
Jackie Pittman

A seasoned journalist with a focus on UK political affairs, bringing years of experience and a sharp analytical eye to her writing.

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