Meet this Weekend League Club Boasting Over 1,800 Top-Flight Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Vets during a 6-2 win against their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you boost a excellent experienced squad who have secured consecutive championships, featuring a double triumph boasting 30 wins from 32 games?

Recruit a group of former pro players that have performed at the elite tier of club and international football as you pursue more silverware.

A Manchester team fields an amateur veterans squad with nine ex- Premier League footballers in their current squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Goals, 325 International Appearances

The team Vets Over 35s are situated in southern the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Premier Division.

Their roster this campaign boasts nine ex- Premier League footballers, with a total nearly 1,800 top-flight games.

The high-profile roster also boasts over 220 top division scores and over 320 international caps.

The squad feature one forward, who netted 37 goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for nine million pounds from German league club Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his debut for the team in their most recent home-field game against reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored every one of the six goals in a 6-2 win - featuring a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

The squad for this season also features ex- professionals such as English and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the ex- Premier League footballers have secured 15 major honors and moved for combined transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Well-Known Names and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Irish appearances, scoring 4 goals

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the team during preseason this summer through close mate and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then asked additional ex-pros, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side match, to participate.

Former Senegal forward Oumar Niasse, who netted twelve scores in 65 Premier League games for Everton and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut versus the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

"My mate Stephen Ireland said 'come and play, it's a laugh'," commented the striker.

"After that he told me we were facing a side from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Everton kits - I thought this is strange for me!

"When you still enjoy football and you know you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to do?

"The people who come and see are happy and to make someone's day if they see us playing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the joy of us getting somewhere we can play, with organisation of course."

So great is the squad depth at the club, Niasse had his debut at full-back.

"That's a bit unusual but then, I enjoy sprinting and just move inside - I'm not defending that much," he added.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

'Surreal Experience

Along with Cisse's 6 scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in three appearances for the side, while Boyd scored five on his first appearance and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, notched a hat-trick in one match up front.

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

One opponent, 38, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against former Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two World Cups for his country, in addition to featuring in over two hundred Premier League games.

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

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

"Also Heskey got on and he's has 60-odd England appearances.

"Our side held our own for a solid twenty minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was hard.

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

"The opponents were all friendly, shaking our hands after the game - it was like facing a bunch of normal guys.

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

We Will Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate veterans team, who secured the Premier Tier title the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"We scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Candace Carson
Candace Carson

Lena Visser is a youth empowerment advocate and writer passionate about helping young people unlock their potential through creative and educational initiatives.