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

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for the team Vets in a 6-2 win versus their opponents on 19 October (left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you boost a stellar experienced side who have secured consecutive championships, featuring a double triumph with 30 victories from 32 matches?

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

One Greater Manchester team has an non-professional veterans team with nine former top-flight footballers in their current roster.

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

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

The squad list this campaign includes 9 ex- top-flight players, with a collective 1,801 top-flight appearances.

This elite roster also includes over 220 Premier League goals and 325 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who netted thirty-seven goals in 117 games for Newcastle United after moving to them for £9m from German league club Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home match versus defending champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored every one of the six scores in a 6-2 victory - featuring a 32-minute opening period triple.

The roster for this campaign also includes ex- professionals such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight players have won fifteen major trophies and moved for combined transfer fees of around £123 million.

Household Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Republic of Ireland caps, netting four goals

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the team in pre-season this season through good mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then asked additional ex-pros, who all compete in a weekly nine-a-side game, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who scored 12 goals in 65 Premier League games for the Toffees and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Everton training kit as their strip.

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

"A friend Stephen told me 'join and have a game, it's good fun'," commented the striker.

"After that he told me we were facing a side from the city and the shock I had when I saw them sporting Blue shirts - 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?

"Those fans who come and watch are happy and to make someone's day if they watch us playing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us having a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the bench strength at the club, he made his first game at full-back.

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

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

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

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

Dreamlike' Experience

In addition to Cisse's 6 scores on debut, Ireland has netted eight in three appearances for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored five on his first appearance and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, notched a triple in one match up front.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Top Tier with 3 wins from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

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

Figueroa has appeared at 2 global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to featuring in more than 200 top-flight games.

"The news was spreading like wildfire they had these ex-Premier League stars," remarked the player.

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

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

"We competed well for a solid 20 mins but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

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

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

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

We Will Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition vets team, who secured the Top Division title last season, along with his co-manager.

"We went 1-0 ahead and had a

Julia Lopez
Julia Lopez

A seasoned gaming analyst with a passion for slot mechanics and player psychology, sharing insights to enhance your casino adventures.