Discover the Weekend League Club With 1,800 Premier League Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Vets during a 6-2 triumph versus Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you enhance a outstanding veteran squad who have won consecutive championships, including a double triumph with thirty wins from thirty-two games?

Recruit a group of former pro players who have played at the highest level of club football and international football as you pursue further honors.

One Manchester team has an amateur veterans squad with 9 former top-flight players in their current lineup.

222 Top Division Scores, 325 Global Appearances

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

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

This high-profile roster also boasts 222 Premier League scores and over 320 international caps.

The squad include one forward, who scored thirty-seven goals in over 100 appearances for his former club after signing for them for nine million pounds from German league club Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home match versus reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted all six goals in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

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

Together, the ex- Premier League footballers have secured fifteen major honors and moved for combined transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Well-Known Names and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Republic of Ireland appearances, netting four scores

Ireland began turning out for the side during preseason this season through good mate and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then invited additional ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek small-sided game, to join in.

Ex- Senegal forward Niasse, who netted 12 goals in sixty-five top-flight games for the Toffees and even now attends their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut against Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"My friend Stephen told me 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

"After that he informed me we were facing a side from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Everton shirts - I say this is wrong for me!

"If you still love football and you feel you can still play, anywhere you can play, what are you going to do?

"The people who come and see are pleased and to make a moment if they see us playing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can play, with organisation of course."

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

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

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

"The movement is what I'm looking for. It's good fun."

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa is turning out for Wythenshawe

'Surreal Scenario

In addition to Cisse's six goals on debut, Ireland has scored 8 in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit five on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, notched a hat-trick in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Division with three wins from 3 and a goal difference of +19.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for the opposition, faced former Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old boy who Heskey was.

He has played at two global tournaments for Honduras, in as well as playing in over two hundred Premier League matches.

"It was going round like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League stars," remarked the player.

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

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

"Our side held our own for a solid 20 mins but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

"Our group really have not stopped chatting about it - I was phoning my mother and brother on the journey home.

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

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

We Will Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate vets team, who secured the Premier Tier title last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went 1-0 up and had a

Claudia Lindsey
Claudia Lindsey

Elena Forsberg is a Swedish author and fortune enthusiast who explores the intersection of luck and daily life.