Meet this Weekend League Squad Featuring 1,800 Premier League Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for Wythenshawe Vets during a six-two victory against their opponents on 19 October (from left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you boost a stellar experienced squad that have secured back-to-back championships, including a league-cup double boasting thirty wins from thirty-two games?

Recruit a collection of former professionals who have competed at the highest level of club football and international football as you target more trophies.

A Greater Manchester side fields an non-professional vets team with nine ex- top-flight players in their active roster.

222 Premier League Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over-35s are situated in south the city and play in the Cheshire Vets Division Top Tier.

The lineup this season boasts nine former Premier League footballers, with a total over 1,800 top-flight games.

This elite roster also boasts over 220 Premier League scores and 325 international caps.

They include Papiss Cisse, who notched 37 scores in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga club Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home-field game versus defending champions their rivals and netted every one of the six scores in a 6-2 win - including a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

The squad for this campaign also features former pros such as English and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former top-flight footballers have claimed fifteen significant honors and transferred for combined transfer sums of about £123m.

Well-Known Names and Global Players

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

Stephen Ireland started playing for the team during preseason this summer through good friend and present Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then asked additional ex-pros, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side game, to participate.

Former Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve scores in 65 Premier League matches for the Toffees and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and use an Blue training kit as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse played for Everton from 2016 and 2020

"My friend Stephen said 'come and have a game, it's a laugh'," commented Niasse.

"After that he told me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I noticed them sporting Blue kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

"If you still enjoy the game and you feel you can still play, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"The spectators who come and watch are pleased and to make a moment if they see us competing there and to ask us queries - it's really about the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse had his first game at full-back.

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

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is turning out for Wythenshawe

'Surreal Scenario

In addition to the forward's six scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in 3 appearances for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a triple in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Division with three wins from three and a GD of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, 38, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against former Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to playing in over 200 Premier League matches.

"It was spreading like wildfire they had these former top-flight stars," remarked the player.

"I think I was a bit starstruck playing against him to be honest.

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

"Our side held our own for a solid 20 mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was hard.

"Our group literally have not ceased talking about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the way home.

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

"Now we are eager for the return match."

'We'll Still Win the Title'

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

"Our team scored 1-0 up and had a

Tyler Jarvis
Tyler Jarvis

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casino trends and player psychology.