Introduce this Weekend League Club With Over 1,800 Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for the team Veterans in a 6-2 win versus Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you enhance a excellent experienced team who have won back-to-back titles, including a league-cup double with thirty victories from 32 games?

Recruit a group of former pro players that have played at the elite level of club football and international football as you aim for additional silverware.

A Greater Manchester team boasts an amateur veterans squad with 9 former top-flight footballers in their active roster.

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

The team Vets Over-35s are based in southern the city and play in the Cheshire Vets Division Premier Division.

Their roster this campaign features nine former top-flight players, with a combined 1,801 elite appearances.

The star-studded roster also boasts over 220 top division goals and over 320 international caps.

The squad include one forward, who netted thirty-seven scores in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for nine million pounds from German league side SC Freiburg in 2012.

He had his first appearance for the team in their most recent home match versus reigning title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six goals in a 6-2 victory - including a half-hour opening period hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's roster for this season also features ex- professionals such as England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the ex- Premier League players have secured fifteen major trophies and transferred for combined transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Household Figures and International Stars

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

Stephen Ireland started playing for the side during preseason this season through close mate and current Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then invited additional former professionals, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side match, to participate.

Former Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who scored 12 scores in sixty-five top-flight games for the Toffees and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his first appearance versus the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"A mate Stephen Ireland said 'come and play, it's good fun'," commented Niasse.

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

"If you still enjoy the game and you feel you can still do it, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

"Those spectators who turn up and see are happy and to make a day if they watch us playing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the joy of us having somewhere we can play, with organisation of course."

Such is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, he made his debut at full-back.

"It's a little unusual but then, I love running and just move inside - I'm not staying back that much," he added.

"I warn 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 Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

'Surreal Scenario

In addition to the forward's 6 goals on his first game, Ireland has netted eight in 3 appearances for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored 5 on his first appearance and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, scored a triple in one match as a striker.

The team are leading of the Top Division with three victories from 3 and a goal difference of +19.

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the wing for the opposition, came up against ex- Wigan 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 more than 200 top-flight matches.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had these ex-Premier League players," said Barrow.

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

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

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

"We literally haven't stopped talking about it - I was phoning my mum and sibling on the way home.

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

"Now we are eager for the second match."

We Will Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate veterans side, who secured the Premier Division title last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went 1-0 ahead and had a

Stephanie Gray
Stephanie Gray

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