Introduce this Weekend League Squad Boasting 1,800 Top-Flight Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for the team Vets in a 6-2 win against Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you boost a excellent veteran team that have claimed consecutive championships, including a league-cup double boasting thirty victories from thirty-two matches?

Bring in a collection of ex- professionals that have competed at the elite tier of club and global soccer as you target further trophies.

One Greater Manchester side fields an non-professional vets team with nine former Premier League footballers in their present lineup.

222 Top Division Goals, 325 International Caps

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

Their squad list this campaign features 9 former top-flight players, with a combined nearly 1,800 top-flight games.

This star-studded team also includes over 220 top division scores and 325 international appearances.

They feature Papiss Cisse, who notched thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for his former club after moving to them for nine million pounds from German league club Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his first appearance for the team in their most recent home match against reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six scores in a six-two win - featuring a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's team for this campaign also includes ex- pros such as English and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- top-flight footballers have won 15 big trophies and transferred for combined transfer fees of about ÂŁ123 million.

Household Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won 6 Irish caps, netting four scores

Ireland began turning out for the side during pre-season this season through good mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then asked other former professionals, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side game, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese forward Niasse, who netted twelve scores in 65 Premier League games for the Toffees and even now attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut against the opposition - who are located in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their strip.

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

"A friend Stephen Ireland told me 'join and play, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

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

"When you still love the game and you feel you can still do it, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to do?

"The fans who come and watch are happy and to make someone's moment if they see us competing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can play, with organisation of course."

So great is the squad depth at the club, Niasse made his debut at full-back.

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

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

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

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

'Surreal Experience

Along with the forward's six scores on debut, Ireland has scored eight in 3 appearances for Wythenshawe, while Boyd hit five on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, scored a hat-trick in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Premier Division with 3 victories from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced former Wigan full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 global tournaments for his country, in as well as featuring in more than 200 Premier League matches.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had these ex-Premier League stars," said Barrow.

"I think I was a little starstruck facing him to be honest.

"Also Heskey got on and he's has over 60 England caps.

"We held our own for a good twenty minutes but then we had a player dismissed and it was tough.

"Our group literally have not stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the journey home.

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

"Now we are eager for the return match."

'We'll Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate veterans team, who won the Premier Tier championship last season, together with his co-manager.

"Our team scored 1-0 up and had a

Christopher Hull
Christopher Hull

Teknikentusiast och skribent med passion för innovation och digitala trender.