Introduce this Weekend League Squad With Nearly Two Thousand English Top Division Games

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

What do you improve a outstanding experienced team that have secured back-to-back championships, including a double triumph boasting 30 wins from thirty-two games?

Sign a collection of former pro players that have competed at the highest level of club football and international football as you aim for additional silverware.

One Greater Manchester club fields an non-professional veterans team with nine former top-flight players in their active lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are situated in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Premier Tier.

The roster this season features nine ex- top-flight players, with a combined nearly 1,800 top-flight matches.

This star-studded squad also contains over 220 Premier League goals and over 320 international appearances.

They include Papiss Cisse, who notched thirty-seven scores in over 100 appearances for his former club after signing for them for £9m from German league club Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home match against reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six scores in a six-two win - including a 32-minute first-half triple.

The team for this season also features former pros such as England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- top-flight footballers have claimed 15 significant trophies and moved for total transfer sums of around £123m.

Famous Figures and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned 6 Irish appearances, netting 4 scores

Stephen Ireland began playing for the team in pre-season this summer through good friend and present team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then invited other former professionals, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side match, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 scores in sixty-five Premier League games for the Toffees and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut against the opposition - who are located in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse featured for Everton from 2016 and 2020

"A mate Stephen told me 'come and have a game, it's a laugh'," said Niasse.

"Then he told me we were playing a side from Liverpool and the shock I had when I noticed them wearing Blue shirts - I thought this is strange 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?

"Those spectators who come and watch are happy and to make someone's day if they see us competing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the joy of us having a place we can play, with structure of course."

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

"It's a little unusual but then, I enjoy running and just go inside - 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 running.

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

Unreal Scenario

In addition to the forward's 6 scores on debut, Ireland has netted eight in three appearances for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a hat-trick in one game up front.

The team are leading of the Premier Division with 3 victories from 3 and a goal difference of +19.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for the opposition, faced former Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two World Cups for Honduras, in as well as playing in over two hundred top-flight matches.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had all these former top-flight stars," said the player.

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

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

"Our side competed well for a good twenty minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was hard.

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

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

"Now we are eager for the second match."

We Will Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate veterans side, who won the Premier Division championship last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went one-nil ahead and had a

Natasha Goodman
Natasha Goodman

A seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience covering UK politics and social issues, known for her insightful analysis.