Meet the Weekend League Club Boasting Nearly Two Thousand English Top Division Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Veterans in a six-two 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 improve a outstanding experienced side who have claimed back-to-back titles, featuring a double triumph with 30 victories from thirty-two games?

Sign a group of former pro players that have performed at the highest tier of club and global football as you aim for more silverware.

One Manchester team has an non-professional vets squad with nine former Premier League players in their active squad.

222 Premier League Goals, 325 International Caps

The team Vets Over 35s are based in south the city and play in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Top Division.

The roster this season includes 9 former Premier League footballers, with a collective nearly 1,800 Premier League appearances.

This elite roster also boasts 222 top division goals and 325 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who scored thirty-seven goals in 117 games for Newcastle United after moving to them for £9m from German league side Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home match versus reigning title holders their rivals and scored every one of the six goals in a 6-2 victory - featuring a 32-minute opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this campaign also includes former professionals such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the ex- top-flight footballers have claimed fifteen major honors and transferred for combined transfer sums of about £123m.

Well-Known Figures and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He won 6 Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring four scores

Ireland began playing for the side during pre-season this season through good mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then invited additional ex-pros, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side match, to join in.

Former Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who netted twelve scores in 65 top-flight matches for the Toffees and still goes to their home games, also made his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and use an Everton training kit as their strip.

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

"A mate Stephen Ireland told me 'join and play, it's good fun'," commented the striker.

"After that he informed me we were playing a team from the city and the shock I had when I noticed them wearing Blue shirts - I say this is wrong for me!

"When you still enjoy the game and you know you can still do it, anywhere you can play, what are you going to do?

"The people who turn up and watch are pleased and to give a moment if they see us playing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the joy of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his debut at defender.

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

"I tell my centre-back 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to continue attacking.

"The movement is what I'm looking for. It's good fun."

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

Dreamlike' Experience

In addition to Cisse's six goals on his first game, Stephen Ireland has scored 8 in three appearances for the side, while George Boyd hit 5 on his first appearance and Lescott, a defender by position, scored a hat-trick in one match up front.

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

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for the opposition, faced ex- Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 global tournaments for Honduras, in as well as featuring in over 200 top-flight games.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had all 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 English appearances.

"We held our own for a solid twenty mins but then we had a man dismissed and it was hard.

"We literally haven't ceased talking about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the way home.

"They were all really nice, shaking our hands after the match - it was like playing a group of normal fellas.

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

We Will Still Win the Title'

The manager coaches the opposition vets team, who won the Top Tier title the previous campaign, together with his co-manager.

"Our team scored one-nil up and had a

Taylor Wolf
Taylor Wolf

Elara is a seasoned sports analyst with over a decade of experience in betting strategies and odds analysis.