Discover the Weekend League Team Featuring Nearly Two Thousand Premier League Matches

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

What do you boost a excellent veteran squad who have claimed consecutive championships, including a league-cup double with thirty wins from 32 matches?

Bring in a collection of ex- professionals who have played at the highest level of club and global soccer as you target further silverware.

A Manchester side boasts an non-professional veterans team with 9 ex- top-flight players in their active roster.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, 325 Global Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are located in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire Vets Division Premier Division.

The lineup this campaign boasts 9 former Premier League footballers, with a total over 1,800 Premier League games.

The elite roster also boasts over 220 top division goals and 325 global caps.

They include one forward, who netted 37 scores in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after joining them for £9m from German league club Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse made his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home-field match against defending champions their rivals and scored every one of the six scores in a six-two win - including a 32-minute first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's roster for this campaign also includes former professionals such as England and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former top-flight footballers have secured 15 major honors and transferred for combined transfer fees of about £123 million.

Famous Names and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He won 6 Irish caps, netting 4 scores

Ireland started playing for the team during preseason this summer through close friend and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland midfielder then asked other ex-pros, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side game, to participate.

Ex- Senegal forward Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve scores in 65 Premier League matches for the Toffees and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut versus the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and use an Blue training kit as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse played for the club between 2016 and 2020

"My mate Stephen Ireland said 'join and have a game, it's good fun'," commented the striker.

"Then he informed me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Everton kits - I thought this is strange for me!

"If you still love football and you know you can still do it, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"Those spectators who turn up and see are happy and to make someone's moment if they watch us competing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the pleasure of us getting a place we can play, with organisation of course."

Such is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his debut at defender.

"That's a little different but then, I enjoy running and just go inside - I'm not defending that much," he added.

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

"The running is what I'm after. It's good fun."

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

'Surreal Feeling

In addition to Cisse's 6 goals on his first game, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in three games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit 5 on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

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

One opponent, 38, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against ex- Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 World Cups for his country, in as well as playing in more than 200 top-flight games.

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

"I think I was a little awestruck playing against him to be honest.

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

"Our side held our own for a good 20 minutes but then we had a man dismissed and it was tough.

"We really have not stopped chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and sibling on the journey home.

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

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

We Will Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate vets side, who won the Premier Division title last season, along with his co-manager.

"Our team went 1-0 up and had a

Wendy Rodriguez
Wendy Rodriguez

A tech journalist and lifestyle blogger with over a decade of experience covering digital trends and wellness innovations.