Meet the Weekend League Squad Boasting Over 1,800 Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans in a six-two triumph versus their opponents on 19 October (from left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you boost a excellent veteran team who have secured back-to-back championships, including a double triumph boasting 30 wins from 32 matches?

Sign a raft of ex- pro players who have performed at the highest tier of club and global soccer as you pursue more honors.

One Greater Manchester side boasts an amateur veterans squad with 9 ex- Premier League players in their present roster.

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

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are located in south Manchester and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans League Premier Tier.

The lineup this season includes nine former top-flight players, with a combined 1,801 elite games.

This elite team also contains over 220 top division goals and 325 international caps.

They feature one forward, who scored thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for his former club after moving to them for £9m from German league club Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse made his debut for the team in their most recent home-field match versus defending champions their rivals and netted every one of the six scores in a 6-2 win - including a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

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

Together, the former Premier League players have won 15 major trophies and transferred for total transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Well-Known Names and Global Stars

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

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the side during preseason this summer through good mate and present team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish midfielder then asked additional former professionals, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side game, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve scores in sixty-five Premier League matches for Everton and even now attends their home games, also made his debut against the opposition - who are located in the city and use an Everton warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"A friend Stephen Ireland told me 'join and play, it's good fun'," said the striker.

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

"If you still enjoy the game and you know you can still do it, 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 somewhere we can play, with organisation of course."

Such is the bench strength at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his first game at full-back.

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

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa is turning out for Wythenshawe

Unreal Feeling

In addition to Cisse's six goals on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored 8 in 3 appearances for the side, while Boyd scored five on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, notched a hat-trick in one match up front.

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

One opponent, 38, who features on the flank for the opposition, faced ex- Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two World Cups for his country, in as well as playing in over 200 top-flight matches.

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

"I felt I was a bit starstruck playing against Figueroa to be honest.

"Also Heskey got on and he's has 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 haven't ceased talking about it - I was calling my mother and brother on the way home.

"The opponents were all really nice, shaking our hands after the match - it was like facing 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 Top Division championship last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"We scored one-nil ahead and had a

Betty Gordon
Betty Gordon

A mindfulness coach and minimalist enthusiast, sharing her journey to inner peace through simple living and meditation practices.