Introduce this Weekend Division Club With Nearly Two Thousand English Top Division Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for the team Veterans in a six-two victory against their opponents on 19 October (left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you enhance a excellent veteran side that have won back-to-back titles, featuring a league-cup double with 30 wins from thirty-two games?

Bring in a collection of ex- pro players who have performed at the top tier of club and international soccer as you pursue additional honors.

A Manchester side has an non-professional veterans squad with 9 former Premier League players in their current lineup.

222 Premier League Goals, 325 International Appearances

The team Veterans Over-35s are located in south Manchester and compete in the Cheshire Veterans League Premier Division.

The squad list this season includes nine former top-flight footballers, with a combined nearly 1,800 elite appearances.

The elite squad also includes over 220 Premier League goals and over 320 global appearances.

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

Cisse had his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their last home match against defending champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six goals in a six-two win - including a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's squad for this season also includes ex- pros such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- Premier League players have secured fifteen big honors and moved for total transfer fees of about £123 million.

Well-Known Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned 6 Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring 4 goals

Ireland began turning out for the side during pre-season this season through close friend and present team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish midfielder then asked additional ex-pros, who all compete in a weekly small-sided match, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese striker Niasse, who scored twelve goals in 65 Premier League matches for the Toffees and still goes to their home games, also made his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their strip.

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

"My friend Stephen said 'come and play, it's good fun'," commented Niasse.

"Then he told me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Everton kits - I thought this is strange for me!

"When you still love football and you feel you can still play, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to do?

"Those spectators who come 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 pleasure of us having a place we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the strength in depth at the club, Niasse made his debut at defender.

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

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

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

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

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

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Tier with 3 wins from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

One opponent, 38, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against former Latics full-back Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

He has appeared at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in as well as playing in over 200 top-flight games.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had all these former top-flight stars," said the player.

"I felt I was a little starstruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

"Also Heskey came on and he's has 60-odd English caps.

"Our side held our own for a good 20 minutes but then we had a player dismissed and it was tough.

"We literally haven't stopped talking about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the journey home.

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

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

'We'll Still Win the League'

The manager coaches the opposition vets side, who secured the Premier Tier title the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"We went one-nil ahead and had a

Carl Robertson
Carl Robertson

A seasoned journalist with over 15 years of experience covering global affairs and social issues, dedicated to uncovering truth through rigorous research.