Meet the Weekend League Team With Over 1,800 English Top Division Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for Wythenshawe Vets during a six-two win against their opponents on 19 October (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you enhance a outstanding experienced squad who have won consecutive titles, including a double triumph boasting 30 victories from thirty-two matches?

Sign a group of ex- pro players who have competed at the elite tier of club and global soccer as you target additional honors.

A Greater Manchester club boasts an non-professional vets team with nine former top-flight players in their current squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Scores, 325 International Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are situated in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Premier Division.

The roster this campaign includes 9 ex- top-flight players, with a collective over 1,800 elite matches.

The elite squad also boasts over 220 top division scores and 325 global caps.

They include one forward, who netted thirty-seven goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after joining them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their last home match versus defending title holders their rivals and netted all six goals in a 6-2 victory - featuring a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's roster for this season also includes ex- professionals such as English and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former top-flight players have won 15 major trophies and moved for combined transfer fees of around £123 million.

Household Names and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He won six Irish appearances, scoring 4 goals

Ireland began playing for the team during pre-season this season through good friend and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then asked other ex-pros, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side game, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese forward Niasse, who netted 12 goals in 65 top-flight matches for Everton and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also made his first appearance against the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"My mate Stephen said 'come and have a game, it's a laugh'," said the striker.

"Then he informed me we were playing a side from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I noticed them sporting Blue shirts - I say this is wrong for me!

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

"The people who come and watch are pleased and to make someone's day if they see us playing there and to pose us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us having a place we can play, with organisation of course."

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

"It's a little unusual but then, I enjoy running and just go forward - I'm not defending that much," he said.

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

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

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

'Surreal Feeling

Along with the forward's six goals on debut, Ireland has netted eight in three games for the side, while Boyd scored five on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, scored a triple in one match up front.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Top Tier with 3 wins from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against ex- Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young son who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at two World Cups for his country, in as well as playing in over two hundred top-flight matches.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had all these ex-Premier League stars," remarked Barrow.

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

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

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

"We literally have not stopped 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 bunch of regular guys.

"Now we are eager for the return fixture."

We Will Still Take the League'

The manager coaches the Collegiate veterans team, who won the Premier Tier championship the previous campaign, together with Paul Maguire.

"We scored one-nil up and had a

Charles Boyd
Charles Boyd

Elena Voss is a home design enthusiast and sustainability advocate with a passion for creating beautiful, eco-conscious spaces.