Discover this Weekend League Club With Over 1,800 English Top Division Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Vets in a 6-2 triumph against their opponents on 19 October (left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you improve a excellent experienced side who have secured back-to-back titles, including a double triumph boasting 30 wins from thirty-two matches?

Recruit a collection of ex- professionals who have played at the top tier of club football and global soccer as you target more silverware.

A Manchester team fields an amateur vets team with nine ex- top-flight footballers in their present lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are situated in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire Vets Division Premier Tier.

The squad list this campaign boasts 9 ex- Premier League footballers, with a combined over 1,800 top-flight games.

This high-profile team also includes 222 Premier League scores and over 320 global caps.

They include Papiss Cisse, who notched 37 goals in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after joining them for nine million pounds from German league side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

He had his debut for the team in their last home match versus reigning title holders their rivals and netted all six goals in a 6-2 win - including a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

The team for this season also includes former professionals such as English and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the former Premier League footballers have won 15 significant trophies and moved for total transfer fees of around £123m.

Household Figures and International Stars

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

Ireland began turning out for the team in pre-season this season through good mate and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the former Irish player then asked other ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek small-sided game, to join in.

Former Senegal forward Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 scores in sixty-five Premier League games for Everton and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut against Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
He featured for the club from 2016 and 2020

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

"Then he told me we were facing a team from the city and the surprise I had when I noticed them sporting Everton kits - 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?

"The spectators who come and watch are happy and to make someone's day if they watch us competing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the joy of us having a place we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the squad depth at the club, Niasse had his debut at defender.

"That's a bit different but then, I love sprinting and just move forward - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa is turning out for Wythenshawe

'Surreal Feeling

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

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Division with three victories from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who features on the wing for the opposition, faced ex- Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in as well as playing in over 200 top-flight matches.

"It was spreading like wildfire they had these former top-flight stars," said Barrow.

"I felt I was a little awestruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

"Even Emile [Heskey] got on and he's has over 60 England appearances.

"Our side held our own for a solid twenty mins but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

"Our group really have not stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mother and sibling on the way home.

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

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

We Will Still Win the Title'

The manager manages the opposition vets side, who won the Premier Division title last season, along with his co-manager.

"We went one-nil ahead and had a

Aaron Norman
Aaron Norman

Elara is a passionate writer and lifestyle enthusiast, sharing her journey and insights to inspire others in their daily pursuits.