Discover this Weekend League Club With Over 1,800 Premier League Games

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

How can you improve a outstanding veteran squad who have won back-to-back titles, including a double triumph with thirty victories from thirty-two games?

Recruit a group of former professionals who have competed at the top level of club football and global soccer as you pursue further trophies.

A Greater Manchester club boasts an amateur vets squad with 9 ex- Premier League players in their active roster.

222 Premier League Goals, 325 International Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over-35s are based in south the city and play in the Cheshire Veterans League Premier Tier.

Their roster this campaign includes nine former Premier League players, with a total over 1,800 top-flight games.

The star-studded team also includes 222 top division goals and 325 global caps.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who scored 37 scores in 117 games for Newcastle United after joining them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his debut for the team in their most recent home-field match against defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted all six scores in a 6-2 victory - including a 32-minute first-half triple.

The roster for this season also features ex- pros such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- Premier League footballers have secured fifteen big trophies and transferred for total transfer sums of around £123m.

Well-Known Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned 6 Republic of Ireland appearances, netting four scores

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the team during pre-season this summer through close mate and present Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then asked other ex-pros, who all play in a midweek small-sided game, to join in.

Ex- Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who netted twelve scores in 65 Premier League matches for Everton and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also made his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"My mate Stephen Ireland said 'come and have a game, it's good fun'," said the striker.

"Then he informed me we were facing a team from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Everton shirts - I say this is wrong for me!

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

"Those people who come and watch are happy and to make a moment if they see us playing there and to ask us queries - it's really about the joy of us having somewhere we can play, with organisation of course."

So great is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his debut at defender.

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

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

"The running is what I'm looking for. It's enjoyable."

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

Along with the forward's 6 goals on his first game, Stephen Ireland has scored 8 in 3 appearances for the side, while George Boyd hit five on his first appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a triple in one game up front.

The team are leading of the Top Tier with 3 wins from three and a goal difference of +19.

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

Figueroa has appeared at two World Cups for Honduras, in addition to playing in more than two hundred Premier League matches.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League players," remarked the player.

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

"Even Heskey came on and he's has over 60 England caps.

"We held our own for a good 20 minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

"We literally have not stopped talking about it - I was phoning my mum and sibling on the journey home.

"They were all dead sound, shaking our hands after the game - it was like playing a bunch of regular fellas.

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

'We'll Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition vets side, who won the Premier Division title last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went 1-0 ahead and had a

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Andrew Hill

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