Introduce the Weekend League Team Featuring Nearly Two Thousand Premier League Appearances

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

What do you improve a excellent experienced team who have secured consecutive titles, featuring a double triumph with thirty victories from thirty-two games?

Sign a group of ex- pro players that have played at the top tier of club and global football as you target further silverware.

A Greater Manchester side boasts an amateur vets squad with 9 ex- top-flight footballers in their current squad.

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

The team Veterans Over-35s are situated in south the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Top Tier.

The lineup this season boasts 9 ex- top-flight players, with a collective over 1,800 top-flight games.

The elite team also boasts 222 Premier League scores and 325 global caps.

The squad feature one forward, who notched 37 scores in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for £9m from German league side SC Freiburg in 2012.

He had his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home game against defending title holders their rivals and scored all six scores in a six-two win - featuring a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

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

In total, the former top-flight footballers have claimed fifteen significant trophies and transferred for combined transfer fees of around £123m.

Famous Figures and International Players

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

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the side during pre-season this summer through good friend and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited other ex-pros, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side game, to participate.

Former Senegalese striker Niasse, who scored twelve scores in 65 Premier League matches for Everton and even now attends their home games, also made his first appearance versus the opposition - who are located in the city and use an Blue training kit as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
He played for Everton between 2016 and 2020

"My friend Stephen told me 'come and have a game, it's good fun'," commented Niasse.

"Then he told me we were facing a team from the city and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Blue kits - I thought this is strange for me!

"If you still enjoy the game and you feel you can still play, wherever you can play, what are you going to do?

"The spectators who come and see are pleased and to make a day if they watch us playing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us having a place we can play, with organisation of course."

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

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

"I tell my centre-back 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to keep running.

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is turning out for the team

Dreamlike' Feeling

In addition to Cisse's six goals on debut, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored five on his first match and Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a triple in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Tier with 3 victories from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, 38, who plays on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in addition to playing in more than 200 top-flight games.

"The news was spreading like wildfire they had all these former top-flight stars," said Barrow.

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

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

"Our side held our own for a solid twenty mins but then we had a man sent off and it was hard.

"We really have not stopped talking about it - I was phoning my mother and brother on the way home.

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

"Now we are eager for the second fixture."

We Will Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate veterans side, who secured the Top Tier title last season, together with his co-manager.

"We went 1-0 ahead and had a

Christopher Anderson
Christopher Anderson

Elara is an experienced outdoor enthusiast and gear tester who shares insights from years of exploring trails across Europe.