Meet this Weekend Division Club Featuring Over 1,800 Top-Flight Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for Wythenshawe Veterans in a six-two win versus their opponents on October 19th (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you enhance a outstanding veteran squad that have claimed consecutive championships, featuring a league-cup double boasting 30 victories from thirty-two matches?

Sign a collection of ex- pro players that have performed at the elite level of club and international soccer as you aim for further trophies.

One Manchester club has an amateur vets squad with 9 ex- top-flight footballers in their current roster.

222 Top Division Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Caps

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

Their roster this season features 9 ex- Premier League footballers, with a combined 1,801 elite games.

The high-profile roster also boasts 222 top division scores and 325 international appearances.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who scored 37 scores in 117 appearances for his former club after moving to them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his debut for the team in their most recent home-field match against defending champions their rivals and scored every one of the six scores in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

The team for this season also features ex- professionals such as England and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo 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 big trophies and moved for total transfer fees of approximately ÂŁ123m.

Well-Known Names and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Republic of Ireland caps, scoring four scores

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the team in preseason this season through good mate and present team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then asked additional former professionals, who all compete in a midweek small-sided game, to participate.

Former Senegal striker Niasse, who scored 12 goals in 65 top-flight matches for Everton and even now goes to their home games, also had his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their strip.

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 enjoyable'," said Niasse.

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

"If you still love the game and you feel you can still play, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"The fans who turn up and watch are pleased and to make a day if they watch us playing there and to ask us queries - it's really about the joy of us getting somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

Such is the squad depth at the club, he had his debut at full-back.

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

"I tell my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to continue attacking.

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for the team

'Surreal Experience

Along with the forward's six scores on debut, Ireland has netted 8 in three games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored five on his debut appearance and Lescott, a defender by position, scored a triple in one match up front.

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

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced former Wigan defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

He has appeared at two World Cups for his country, in addition to featuring in more than two hundred Premier League games.

"The news was spreading like wildfire they had these former top-flight players," said Barrow.

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

"Also Emile [Heskey] came on and he's has 60-odd England caps.

"We competed well for a solid 20 minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was hard.

"We really haven't stopped talking about it - I was phoning my mother and brother on the way home.

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

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

'We'll Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate veterans side, who secured the Premier Tier championship last season, together with his co-manager.

"Our team scored one-nil up and had a

Denise Richardson
Denise Richardson

Maya Chen is a tech journalist and futurist with over a decade of experience covering AI, blockchain, and digital transformation.