Meet the Weekend Division Club Boasting 1,800 English Top Division Appearances

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

What can you improve a excellent experienced side that have secured back-to-back titles, including a double triumph boasting 30 victories from 32 matches?

Bring in a group of former professionals that have played at the top level of club and global soccer as you aim for more silverware.

A Greater Manchester club boasts an amateur veterans squad with 9 former top-flight footballers in their current squad.

222 Premier League Goals, 325 International Appearances

The team Veterans Over 35s are located in south Manchester and compete in the Cheshire Vets Division Top Tier.

The roster this campaign features nine ex- Premier League players, with a collective over 1,800 Premier League games.

The star-studded roster also contains over 220 Premier League scores and over 320 global caps.

The squad feature one forward, who notched thirty-seven scores in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from German league club Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home-field game versus defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six scores in a six-two victory - including a half-hour first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's squad for this campaign also features ex- professionals such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League footballers have secured fifteen major honors and transferred for combined transfer sums of around £123m.

Household Figures and International Stars

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

Ireland started playing for the side during pre-season this season through good friend and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then invited other ex-pros, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side game, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese forward Niasse, who scored 12 scores in 65 top-flight matches for Everton and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also made his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and use an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

"My friend Stephen told me 'join and have a game, it's good fun'," commented Niasse.

"After that he told me we were facing a side from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Blue kits - I thought this is strange for me!

"If you still love football and you know you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to do?

"Those spectators who turn up and see are pleased and to make someone's moment if they watch us playing there and to pose us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the bench strength at the club, he had his debut at defender.

"It's a little different but then, I love sprinting and just go forward - I'm not staying back that much," he added.

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

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

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

'Surreal Experience

Along with Cisse's 6 scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has netted eight in 3 appearances for the side, while George Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a triple in one game as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Division with 3 wins from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for the opposition, faced ex- Wigan full-back Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young son who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in as well as playing in over 200 Premier League games.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had all these former top-flight players," said the player.

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

"Also Emile [Heskey] got on and he's has 60-odd English appearances.

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

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

"They were all friendly, shaking our hands after the game - it was like facing a bunch of regular guys.

"Now we are eager for the return fixture."

'We'll Still Take the Title'

The manager manages the opposition veterans team, who secured the Top Tier title last season, together with his co-manager.

"Our team went 1-0 up and had a

Wesley Snyder
Wesley Snyder

A passionate gaming enthusiast with years of experience in online betting and streaming, dedicated to sharing insights and strategies.