Introduce the Weekend Division Club With Nearly Two Thousand Top-Flight Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Vets in a six-two triumph against Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you improve a outstanding experienced squad who have claimed consecutive titles, featuring a league-cup double boasting thirty wins from 32 games?

Bring in a collection of ex- professionals who have performed at the highest level of club football and global soccer as you pursue more trophies.

A Manchester side boasts an non-professional vets squad with nine ex- top-flight players in their current squad.

222 Top Division Scores, 325 International Caps

The team Vets Over 35s are situated in southern Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Top Division.

The roster this campaign boasts 9 former Premier League footballers, with a total over 1,800 top-flight matches.

The high-profile roster also includes 222 Premier League scores and 325 international caps.

The squad include one forward, who scored thirty-seven scores in over 100 games for his former club after moving to them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home-field game versus defending champions their rivals and scored every one of the six goals in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's squad for this campaign also includes ex- pros such as England and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- Premier League footballers have claimed 15 major honors and transferred for combined transfer fees of approximately £123 million.

Famous Figures and Global Players

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

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the team during preseason this season through close friend and present team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then invited additional ex-pros, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side game, to participate.

Ex- Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve goals in sixty-five top-flight games for Everton and even now attends their home games, also had his first appearance against the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and use an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

"A mate Stephen Ireland told me 'join and have a game, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

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

"When you still enjoy football and you feel you can still do it, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

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

Such is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, he made his debut at full-back.

"That's a little unusual but then, I enjoy running and just move forward - I'm not defending that much," he said.

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

"That movement is what I'm looking for. It's good fun."

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa is turning out for Wythenshawe

'Surreal Scenario

Along with the forward's 6 goals on his first game, Ireland has netted 8 in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored five on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a triple in one game as a striker.

The team are top of the Premier Tier with 3 victories from 3 and a GD of +19.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Latics defender Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in as well as featuring in over 200 top-flight games.

"It was spreading like wildfire they had these former top-flight players," 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 solid 20 mins but then we had a man sent off and it was hard.

"Our group really haven't stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the journey home.

"The opponents were all dead sound, shaking our hands after the game - it was like playing a group of regular guys.

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

We Will Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition veterans side, who won the Premier Division championship the previous campaign, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went one-nil up and had a

Laura Gutierrez
Laura Gutierrez

Financial analyst and luxury asset specialist with over a decade of experience in precious metals and alternative investments.