Meet this Weekend Division Club Featuring Nearly Two Thousand Premier League Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for the team Veterans during a six-two victory against Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you boost a excellent veteran side who have claimed back-to-back titles, including a double triumph boasting 30 victories from 32 games?

Sign a raft of ex- pro players that have played at the top level of club and international football as you pursue further honors.

A Manchester team boasts an amateur vets team with nine former Premier League footballers in their present roster.

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

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

The squad list this campaign boasts nine former top-flight players, with a total nearly 1,800 Premier League matches.

This star-studded roster also boasts over 220 top division scores and 325 global caps.

The squad feature one forward, who notched thirty-seven goals in over 100 games for Newcastle United after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their last home game versus defending title holders their rivals and scored every one of the six goals in a six-two victory - featuring a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's team for this campaign also includes former professionals such as England and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the ex- Premier League players have secured 15 big trophies and moved for combined transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Well-Known Names and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He won six Republic of Ireland caps, scoring 4 scores

Ireland started turning out for the team in pre-season this season through close friend and current team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited other former professionals, who all play in a midweek small-sided game, to join in.

Former Senegal forward Niasse, who scored 12 scores in 65 top-flight games for Everton and still goes to their home games, also had his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and use an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

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

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

"After that he told me we were facing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Blue kits - I say this is wrong for me!

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

"Those people who come and see are happy and to give someone's moment if they watch us playing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the squad depth at the club, he had his first game at full-back.

"That's a little unusual but then, I enjoy running and just move inside - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to the forward's 6 goals on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in three games for the side, while George Boyd hit five on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a triple in one game as a striker.

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

Paul Barrow, 38, who plays on the flank for the opposition, came up against ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 World Cups for his country, in addition to playing in more than 200 Premier League games.

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

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

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

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

"We literally haven't stopped talking about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the journey home.

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

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

We Will Still Take the Title'

The manager coaches the opposition vets team, who secured the Top Division championship last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went one-nil up and had a

Sue Rodriguez
Sue Rodriguez

Elara is a passionate writer and life coach who shares her experiences to inspire others on their personal journeys.