Discover the Weekend League Club Boasting 1,800 Top-Flight Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Veterans in a six-two victory versus Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you enhance a stellar experienced team that have secured back-to-back championships, including a double triumph with 30 victories from 32 matches?

Recruit a group of ex- professionals who have competed at the elite tier of club and global football as you aim for further honors.

A Manchester side fields an non-professional vets team with 9 ex- top-flight players in their active lineup.

222 Top Division Scores, 325 International Caps

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

The squad list this campaign includes nine ex- top-flight players, with a total nearly 1,800 elite games.

The high-profile roster also boasts over 220 top division goals and 325 international appearances.

The squad feature Papiss Cisse, who netted thirty-seven goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for nine million pounds from German league club Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home-field game versus reigning champions their rivals and scored every one of the six scores in a six-two victory - including a half-hour opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this campaign also features ex- professionals such as English and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former top-flight footballers have won fifteen big trophies and transferred for total transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Household Names and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He won 6 Republic of Ireland caps, scoring 4 scores

Ireland began turning out for the team in preseason this season through close mate and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Irish player then invited other ex-pros, who all play in a midweek small-sided match, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve scores in sixty-five Premier League matches for the Toffees and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also made his first appearance against the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse featured for the club from 2016 and 2020

"My mate Stephen said 'come and have a game, it's a laugh'," commented Niasse.

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

"When you still love the game and you feel you can still play, anywhere you can play, what are you going to do?

"The spectators who turn up and see are happy and to make someone's day if they watch us competing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the joy of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the bench strength at the club, he had his first game at full-back.

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

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

"That running 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

Dreamlike' Experience

In addition to Cisse's six goals on his first game, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in 3 appearances for the side, while Boyd scored 5 on his first appearance and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a hat-trick in one match up front.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Division with three wins from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for the opposition, came up against former Wigan defender Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young boy who Heskey was.

He has appeared at two global tournaments for his country, in as well as playing in over two hundred Premier League matches.

"It was going round like wildfire they had these ex-Premier League players," remarked the player.

"I felt I was a bit awestruck playing against Figueroa to be honest.

"Also Emile [Heskey] got on and he's has 60-odd England caps.

"Our side competed well for a solid 20 mins but then we had a man sent off and it was hard.

"We really haven't ceased chatting about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the way home.

"They were all friendly, shaking our hands after the game - it was like playing a group of regular guys.

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

We Will Still Win the League'

The manager coaches the opposition vets side, who secured the Top Division championship the previous campaign, together with his co-manager.

"Our team scored one-nil ahead and had a

Amanda Reilly
Amanda Reilly

A digital nomad and tech enthusiast who finds joy in simplifying complex ideas. Aria writes to inspire curiosity and foster understanding.