Introduce this Weekend Division Club Featuring 1,800 Top-Flight Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for the team Vets in a six-two triumph against Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you boost a stellar experienced side who have won consecutive titles, featuring a double triumph boasting 30 victories from 32 matches?

Sign a group of former professionals who have competed at the highest tier of club and international soccer as you pursue further trophies.

A Greater Manchester team has an non-professional vets team with nine ex- Premier League players in their current squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are situated in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire Veterans League Premier Division.

The roster this campaign includes nine former Premier League footballers, with a combined nearly 1,800 elite matches.

This elite roster also boasts over 220 Premier League scores and 325 global appearances.

They feature Papiss Cisse, who scored thirty-seven scores in over 100 games for Newcastle United after joining them for £9m from German league side Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home game against defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and scored every one of the six goals in a six-two win - including a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

The roster for this campaign also features ex- pros such as England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former top-flight players have claimed 15 big honors and moved for total transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Famous Figures and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Irish appearances, scoring 4 scores

Ireland began turning out for the team during pre-season this summer through good mate and present Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then invited additional former professionals, who all play in a midweek small-sided game, to participate.

Ex- Senegal forward Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 scores in 65 top-flight matches for the Toffees and still attends their home games, also had his debut against Collegiate OB - who are based in Liverpool and use an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

"My friend Stephen Ireland said 'join and play, it's a laugh'," said Niasse.

"Then he told me we were playing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Blue shirts - I say this is wrong for me!

"When you still love football and you know you can still play, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"The fans who turn up and watch are pleased and to make a day if they see us competing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the joy of us getting somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

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

"It's a little unusual but then, I enjoy running and just move forward - 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 continue attacking.

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

Unreal Experience

Along with the forward's six scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has netted eight in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored 5 on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a triple in one game as a striker.

The team are top of the Premier Division with 3 wins from three and a GD of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the flank for the opposition, came up against former Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

He has appeared at two global tournaments for Honduras, in as well as featuring in more than 200 Premier League matches.

"It was going round like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League players," remarked Barrow.

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

"Also Emile [Heskey] came on and he's has over 60 England caps.

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

"We literally have not ceased talking about it - I was calling my mother and sibling on the way home.

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

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

'We'll Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate veterans side, who secured the Top Division title last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"We went 1-0 up and had a

David Massey
David Massey

A tech journalist and digital strategist based in London, specializing in emerging technologies and startup ecosystems across Europe.