Introduce this Weekend League Squad With Over 1,800 Premier League Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for Wythenshawe Veterans during a 6-2 victory versus their opponents on 19 October (from left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you enhance a outstanding veteran side that have won consecutive titles, featuring a double triumph with thirty victories from 32 games?

Sign a group of ex- professionals that have performed at the elite level of club football and international football as you pursue more trophies.

One Manchester side has an non-professional veterans team with nine former top-flight players in their present squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Scores, 325 International Caps

The team Vets Over-35s are based in southern the city and play in the Cheshire Vets Division Top Tier.

The roster this season includes nine former Premier League players, with a total over 1,800 elite matches.

This elite squad also boasts 222 Premier League scores and over 320 international caps.

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

Cisse made his first appearance for the team in their last home game versus reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six goals in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

The roster for this campaign also features former pros such as England and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the ex- top-flight footballers have secured 15 major trophies and transferred for total transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Well-Known Names and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned 6 Irish appearances, scoring four goals

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the team during pre-season this summer through close mate and present team player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then invited other former professionals, who all compete in a weekly nine-a-side game, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese forward Niasse, who scored 12 goals in sixty-five Premier League games for the Toffees and still goes to their home games, also had his debut against Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Blue training kit as their strip.

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

"A mate Stephen told me 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," said the striker.

"After that he informed me we were facing a team from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Blue kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

"When you still enjoy football and you feel you can still play, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

"The fans who come and watch are happy and to give a moment if they watch us competing there and to pose us queries - it's more like the joy of us having a place we can play, with organisation of course."

So great is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, he had his debut at defender.

"That's a little different but then, I love sprinting and just go forward - I'm not defending that much," he said.

"I tell my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to continue attacking.

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

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

Unreal Scenario

In addition to Cisse's 6 scores on debut, Ireland has netted eight in three games for Wythenshawe, while Boyd hit 5 on his first appearance and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, scored a triple in one match as a striker.

The team are leading of the Premier Division with 3 victories from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against former Wigan defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old boy who Emile Heskey was.

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

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

"I think I was a bit awestruck facing him to be honest.

"Even Emile [Heskey] got on and he's got over 60 English caps.

"Our side competed well for a good twenty mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was tough.

"Our group really have not ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and sibling on the way home.

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

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

We Will Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition veterans side, who secured the Premier Division championship the previous campaign, along with his co-manager.

"Our team went one-nil ahead and had a

Vincent Phillips
Vincent Phillips

A seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience covering UK politics and social issues, known for in-depth analysis and engaging storytelling.