Introduce the Weekend League Squad Boasting 1,800 Top-Flight Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans in a 6-2 win against Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you improve a outstanding experienced squad who have secured back-to-back titles, featuring a league-cup double boasting thirty victories from 32 games?

Recruit a collection of ex- pro players who have played at the highest level of club and global soccer as you aim for additional silverware.

A Greater Manchester club has an amateur veterans squad with 9 ex- top-flight players in their present squad.

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

The team Veterans Over-35s are located in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Premier Division.

Their roster this season boasts nine ex- top-flight players, with a collective over 1,800 Premier League matches.

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

The squad feature Papiss Cisse, who netted 37 goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse had his debut for the team in their most recent home game against reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted all six goals in a 6-2 win - including a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's squad for this season also includes ex- pros such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight footballers have claimed fifteen significant trophies and transferred for combined transfer sums of about £123m.

Famous Names and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Irish appearances, netting four scores

Ireland started turning out for the side in preseason this season through good friend and present team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited other former professionals, who all compete in a weekly small-sided match, to participate.

Former Senegal forward Oumar Niasse, who scored 12 goals in 65 Premier League games for Everton and even now attends their home games, also had his debut versus the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"My friend Stephen said 'join and have a game, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

"After that he informed me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Blue shirts - I say this is strange for me!

"If you still enjoy football and you know you can still play, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to do?

"Those spectators who turn up and watch are happy and to give someone's day if they see us competing there and to pose us queries - it's more like the joy of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the bench strength at Wythenshawe, he had his first game at full-back.

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

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

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

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

Dreamlike' Feeling

Along with the forward's six scores on debut, Ireland has netted eight in three appearances for the side, while Boyd scored five on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, notched a hat-trick in one match up front.

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

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Latics defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at 2 global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to playing in over 200 Premier League matches.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had these former top-flight players," remarked Barrow.

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

"Also Heskey came on and he's has 60-odd English appearances.

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

"We really haven't ceased chatting about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the journey home.

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

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

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate vets team, who secured the Premier Division championship last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Dr. Alan Guerra
Dr. Alan Guerra

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