Introduce this Weekend Division Team Featuring Over 1,800 Premier League Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans during a 6-2 victory against their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you boost a excellent veteran team that have secured consecutive championships, featuring a league-cup double with 30 victories from 32 matches?

Bring in a collection of ex- pro players that have competed at the highest level of club football and global football as you aim for more honors.

One Greater Manchester team boasts an non-professional vets team with 9 ex- top-flight players in their present lineup.

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

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are situated in southern the city and play in the Cheshire Veterans Division Premier Division.

The lineup this season features 9 ex- Premier League players, with a total 1,801 elite games.

The elite team also contains 222 Premier League goals and 325 international caps.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who scored 37 goals in over 100 appearances for his former club after joining them for £9m from German league club SC Freiburg in 2012.

He had his debut for the team in their most recent home-field match versus reigning champions their rivals and netted all six goals in a six-two win - featuring a half-hour first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this season also features ex- professionals such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- top-flight players have secured 15 major trophies and moved for combined transfer fees of approximately £123 million.

Household Figures and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won 6 Republic of Ireland appearances, netting 4 scores

Ireland started turning out for the side in preseason this summer through good mate and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then invited additional ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side match, to participate.

Ex- Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 goals in 65 Premier League games for the Toffees and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut against the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and use an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

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

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

"Then he informed me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the shock I had when I noticed them sporting Everton shirts - I say this is wrong for me!

"When you still love the game and you feel you can still do it, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"The spectators who turn up and see are happy and to give a day if they see us competing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the joy of us having a place we can play, with organisation of course."

So great is the squad depth at the club, Niasse had his first game at defender.

"It's a little different but then, I love 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 continue attacking.

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa is playing for the team

Unreal Scenario

Along with Cisse's 6 scores on his first game, Ireland has netted eight in three games for the side, while Boyd scored 5 on his first appearance and Lescott, a defender by position, notched a triple in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Top Tier with three victories from 3 and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the flank for the opposition, faced former Latics defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 global tournaments for his country, in as well as featuring in more than 200 Premier League games.

"The news was going round like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League players," said Barrow.

"I think I was a little 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 solid 20 minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was hard.

"Our group really haven't stopped chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the way home.

"The opponents were all really nice, shaking our hands after the game - it was like playing a group of normal guys.

"Now we are eager for the second match."

We Will Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate vets team, who won the Top Division championship the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team scored one-nil up and had a

Kara Chase
Kara Chase

A tech entrepreneur and writer passionate about sharing insights on digital transformation and startup culture.