Discover this Weekend League Team Featuring 1,800 Premier League Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Veterans in a six-two triumph against Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you improve a stellar experienced team who have secured consecutive championships, including a double triumph with thirty wins from thirty-two matches?

Bring in a collection of former professionals that have played at the elite level of club and global football as you pursue additional silverware.

One Manchester team has an amateur veterans squad with 9 former top-flight players in their current lineup.

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

The team Vets Over-35s are situated in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire Veterans League Premier Division.

The squad list this campaign includes 9 ex- top-flight footballers, with a collective nearly 1,800 Premier League games.

The elite team also includes 222 Premier League goals and over 320 international appearances.

The squad include one forward, who netted 37 scores in 117 games for his former club after moving to them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home game versus reigning champions their rivals and netted every one of the six scores in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

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

Collectively, the ex- top-flight footballers have claimed fifteen major honors and transferred for combined transfer fees of about £123m.

Household Names and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring four goals

Ireland started playing for the side in preseason this summer through good mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then invited additional ex-pros, who all compete in a weekly nine-a-side match, to join in.

Ex- Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve goals in sixty-five Premier League games for the Toffees and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut against Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their strip.

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

"My friend Stephen Ireland told me 'come and play, it's good fun'," commented the striker.

"After that he told me we were facing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Blue shirts - I say this is wrong for me!

"If you still love football and you know you can still play, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

"Those people who come and watch are pleased and to make a moment if they watch us competing there and to ask us queries - it's really about the joy of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

So great is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse had his debut at defender.

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

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

"The running is what I'm after. It's enjoyable."

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

Dreamlike' Experience

Along with the forward's 6 scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in 3 appearances for the side, while George Boyd scored five on his first match and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a triple in one match up front.

The team are leading of the Premier Tier with three victories from three and a goal difference of +19.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who features on the wing for the opposition, faced former Latics defender Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

He has appeared at 2 global tournaments for Honduras, in as well as playing in over 200 top-flight matches.

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

"I felt I was a little starstruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

"Also Heskey got on and he's got over 60 England caps.

"We competed well for a good 20 mins but then we had a man dismissed and it was tough.

"Our group literally haven't ceased talking about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the journey home.

"The opponents were all friendly, shaking our hands after the match - it was like facing a bunch of regular fellas.

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

'We'll Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition veterans side, who secured the Top Division title the previous campaign, along with his co-manager.

"We scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Andrew Gordon
Andrew Gordon

A former sports analyst turned betting strategist, specializing in data-driven predictions for major leagues.