Meet the Weekend Division Team Boasting Over 1,800 English Top Division Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans in a 6-2 victory versus Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (from left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you enhance a stellar experienced team who have won consecutive championships, including a double triumph boasting thirty victories from 32 matches?

Recruit a group of former professionals that have competed at the top tier of club and global soccer as you pursue more silverware.

One Greater Manchester side boasts an amateur vets squad with 9 ex- Premier League footballers in their present lineup.

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

The team Vets Over 35s are located in southern the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets League Top Tier.

The lineup this season includes 9 ex- Premier League footballers, with a combined nearly 1,800 top-flight appearances.

The elite squad also contains 222 Premier League goals and 325 international caps.

They feature one forward, who scored thirty-seven goals in 117 games for his former club after joining them for nine million pounds from German league club SC Freiburg in 2012.

He made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home match against reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted all six scores in a six-two victory - featuring a half-hour opening period hat-trick.

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

In total, the ex- Premier League footballers have claimed fifteen significant trophies and moved for combined transfer fees of about £123m.

Well-Known Figures and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He won 6 Republic of Ireland caps, netting 4 goals

Stephen Ireland began playing for the side in pre-season this summer through good mate and current team player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then invited other former professionals, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side match, to join in.

Former Senegalese forward Niasse, who netted 12 scores in 65 top-flight matches for Everton and even now attends their home games, also made his first appearance versus the opposition - who are based in the city and use an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"My mate Stephen Ireland said 'join and play, it's good fun'," commented the striker.

"After that he told me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I noticed them sporting Everton kits - I say this is wrong for me!

"If you still enjoy the game and you know you can still do it, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"Those spectators who turn up and see are pleased and to make a day if they see us competing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the joy of us getting a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, he had his first game at defender.

"It's a bit unusual but then, I enjoy sprinting and just move 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.

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for the team

Unreal Feeling

In addition to Cisse's six goals on debut, Ireland has netted eight in three appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit five on his first match and Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a triple in one game as a striker.

The team are leading of the Premier Division with 3 wins from 3 and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for the opposition, faced former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his nine-year-old boy who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at 2 global tournaments for his country, in as well as featuring in over 200 Premier League matches.

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

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

"Also Heskey came on and he's got 60-odd England caps.

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

"We literally have not stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mother and sibling on the journey home.

"They were all really nice, shaking our hands after the match - it was like facing a group of normal guys.

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

We Will Still Win the Title'

The manager coaches the Collegiate vets side, who won the Top Tier championship last season, along with his co-manager.

"Our team went one-nil up and had a

Samantha Johnson
Samantha Johnson

A seasoned gaming journalist and enthusiast with over a decade of experience covering industry trends and game development insights.