Meet this Weekend League Club Boasting Over 1,800 Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for Wythenshawe Vets in a six-two triumph against their opponents on October 19th (left to right) - one player, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you improve a stellar veteran side who have won consecutive titles, including a double triumph boasting thirty victories from thirty-two matches?

Bring in a raft of ex- pro players who have competed at the elite tier of club football and international football as you aim for more honors.

A Greater Manchester side has an non-professional veterans squad with 9 ex- Premier League players in their current roster.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are based in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans League Top Tier.

The roster this campaign boasts 9 ex- top-flight footballers, with a combined nearly 1,800 top-flight games.

This star-studded squad also contains 222 top division scores and 325 international caps.

They feature one forward, who scored 37 goals in over 100 games for his former club after moving to them for nine million pounds from German league club SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his debut for the team in their most recent home match against reigning title holders their rivals and netted every one of the six scores in a 6-2 victory - including a half-hour opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's roster for this campaign also features former professionals such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former top-flight footballers have secured fifteen big trophies and moved for total transfer fees of around £123 million.

Well-Known Figures and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He won six Republic of Ireland caps, scoring 4 goals

Ireland began turning out for the side during pre-season this season through good mate and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish midfielder then invited additional ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek small-sided match, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve scores in sixty-five Premier League games for Everton and even now attends their home games, also had his debut versus the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and use an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"My mate Stephen Ireland told me 'come and have a game, it's good fun'," said the striker.

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

"When 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 people who turn up and see are pleased and to give a moment if they watch us playing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us getting a place we can play, with organisation of course."

Such is the bench strength at Wythenshawe, he had his first game at full-back.

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

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa is turning out for the team

'Surreal Experience

Along with Cisse's 6 goals on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored 8 in three appearances for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored 5 on his first appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a triple in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Tier with 3 victories from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

One opponent, 38, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against former Wigan defender Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his nine-year-old boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two World Cups for Honduras, in addition to playing in over two hundred Premier League matches.

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

"I think I was a bit starstruck playing against him to be honest.

"Even Emile [Heskey] got on and he's got over 60 English appearances.

"Our side held our own for a solid twenty mins but then we had a man dismissed and it was tough.

"Our group really have not stopped talking about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the way home.

"They were all really nice, shaking our hands after the game - it was like playing a group of regular fellas.

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

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition veterans team, who won the Premier Tier title last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team scored one-nil ahead and had a

Jaclyn Anderson
Jaclyn Anderson

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