Discover this Weekend Division Club Boasting Nearly Two Thousand Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for the team Veterans during a six-two victory against their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you boost a stellar experienced side that have won consecutive titles, including a double triumph boasting thirty victories from 32 games?

Recruit a collection of ex- pro players that have played at the elite level of club football and international soccer as you aim for additional honors.

A Greater Manchester club boasts an amateur veterans squad with nine ex- top-flight players in their present roster.

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

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

The squad list this campaign features 9 ex- top-flight footballers, with a total 1,801 Premier League appearances.

The high-profile squad also boasts over 220 Premier League scores and over 320 global caps.

They include one forward, who netted 37 scores in over 100 appearances for his former club after moving to them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home-field match against reigning title holders their rivals and scored every one of the six goals in a 6-2 victory - including a 32-minute first-half triple.

The team for this season also includes ex- pros such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former top-flight footballers have claimed 15 significant honors and moved for total transfer fees of around £123m.

Household Figures and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Irish caps, scoring four scores

Ireland began playing for the side during preseason this season through close friend and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish midfielder then asked additional former professionals, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side game, to participate.

Ex- Senegal forward Niasse, who scored 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 the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"A mate Stephen Ireland told me 'join and play, it's enjoyable'," said Niasse.

"After that he informed me we were playing a side from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Everton kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

"When you still enjoy football and you feel you can still play, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

"The fans who turn up and see are happy and to make someone's day if they watch us playing there and to pose us questions - it's really about the joy of us having a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the bench strength at the club, Niasse made his first game at full-back.

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

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

Unreal Feeling

In addition to the forward's six goals on debut, Ireland has scored 8 in 3 appearances for the side, while Boyd hit 5 on his debut appearance and Lescott, a defender by position, scored a hat-trick in one match up front.

The team are leading of the Premier Tier with 3 wins from three and a GD of plus nineteen.

One opponent, 38, who plays on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against former Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at two global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to playing in more than 200 Premier League matches.

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

"I felt I was a little starstruck playing against him to be honest.

"Even Heskey got on and he's got 60-odd England appearances.

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

"Our group really have not ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and sibling on the journey home.

"The opponents were all really nice, shaking our hands after the match - it was like playing a group of regular guys.

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

We Will Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate vets side, who won the Top Division championship the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went 1-0 ahead and had a

Christina Smith
Christina Smith

Techstrateeg en contentmaker met een passie voor disruptieve technologieën en duurzame digitale transformatie.