Introduce this Weekend League Club Boasting Over 1,800 English Top Division Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for the team Veterans in a 6-2 triumph versus Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you improve a excellent experienced squad that have claimed back-to-back titles, including a double triumph boasting thirty wins from 32 matches?

Sign a group of former professionals who have played at the elite tier of club football and international soccer as you target further silverware.

A Manchester team boasts an non-professional veterans team with 9 former top-flight players in their present roster.

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

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are situated in southern the city and play in the Cheshire Vets League Top Division.

Their squad list this campaign features nine ex- top-flight footballers, with a total 1,801 top-flight matches.

This elite squad also boasts over 220 top division scores and 325 international appearances.

They include one forward, who scored thirty-seven scores in 117 games for Newcastle United after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga side Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their last home game against defending champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six goals in a six-two win - featuring a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

The squad for this campaign also features ex- pros such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League footballers have won 15 major trophies and moved for total transfer fees of about £123m.

Household Figures and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned six Irish caps, scoring four scores

Stephen Ireland began playing for the side during pre-season this summer through good mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then invited other former professionals, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side game, to participate.

Former Senegal forward Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve goals in 65 Premier League games for Everton and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut versus the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

"My mate Stephen Ireland said 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," said Niasse.

"Then he told me we were facing a team from the city and the shock I had when I saw them wearing Blue shirts - I thought this is wrong for me!

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

"The people who turn up and watch are pleased and to give someone's day if they watch us playing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the joy of us getting somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the squad depth at the club, he had his first game at defender.

"That's a bit unusual but then, I enjoy running and just move inside - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

"I tell my defender 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to continue running.

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

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to Cisse's six scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in 3 appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored 5 on his debut appearance and Lescott, a defender by position, scored a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

The team are top of the Top Tier with three wins from 3 and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against ex- Wigan full-back Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two global tournaments for his country, in addition to playing in over two hundred Premier League games.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League players," said the player.

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

"Even Emile [Heskey] got on and he's has 60-odd England caps.

"We held our own for a solid 20 mins but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

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

"They were all really nice, shaking our hands after the game - it was like facing a group of regular guys.

"Now we are eager for the return fixture."

'We'll Still Win the Title'

The manager coaches the Collegiate vets side, who secured the Premier Tier championship last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went 1-0 up and had a

Krista Brown
Krista Brown

Elin är en svensk livsstilscoach och författare med passion för att hjälpa andra att skapa en mer meningsfull vardag.