Introduce the Weekend League Club Featuring Nearly Two Thousand English Top Division Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Veterans during a six-two win versus their opponents 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 who have won consecutive championships, including a double triumph boasting thirty victories from thirty-two matches?

Bring in a group of former pro players who have played at the elite tier of club football and international football as you aim for more honors.

One Manchester team has an amateur vets team with 9 ex- Premier League players in their active squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, 325 International Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are situated in southern the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Top Division.

Their lineup this season includes nine ex- Premier League players, with a total 1,801 Premier League appearances.

This star-studded team also boasts 222 top division scores and 325 global appearances.

The squad include one forward, who notched thirty-seven goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after joining them for nine million pounds from German league club SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse had his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home-field game versus reigning title holders their rivals and netted every one of the six goals in a 6-2 victory - featuring a 32-minute first-half triple.

The roster for this campaign also includes former professionals such as English and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull 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 championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- Premier League players have claimed 15 significant trophies and moved for combined transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Household Names and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Republic of Ireland caps, scoring 4 scores

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the team during pre-season this season through close mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited additional ex-pros, who all play in a weekly small-sided match, to join in.

Former Senegal striker Niasse, who netted 12 scores in sixty-five top-flight matches for Everton and even now attends their matches at Goodison Park, also made his first appearance versus the opposition - who are located in the city and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse played for the club from 2016 and 2020

"My friend Stephen Ireland said 'come and have a game, it's enjoyable'," said Niasse.

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

"If you still love the game and you feel you can still play, anywhere you can play, what are you going to do?

"The people who turn up and watch are happy and to give someone's day if they watch us competing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the joy of us having a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the squad depth at the club, he made his debut at defender.

"That's a little unusual but then, I love running and just go inside - I'm not defending that much," he added.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for the team

'Surreal Experience

Along with Cisse's 6 scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has scored 8 in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored five on his first match and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a triple in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Top Division with three victories from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for the opposition, came up against ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in as well as playing in over two hundred Premier League matches.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had all these ex-Premier League stars," said the player.

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

"Even Heskey got on and he's has over 60 England appearances.

"Our side held our own for a good 20 minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

"We literally have not ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the journey home.

"The opponents were all dead sound, shaking our hands after the match - it was like playing a bunch of normal fellas.

"Now we are eager for the second fixture."

'We'll Still Win the League'

The manager coaches the opposition veterans team, who secured the Premier Tier title the previous campaign, along with his co-manager.

"We scored one-nil ahead and had a

Richard Moody
Richard Moody

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