Meet this Weekend Division Squad With Over 1,800 Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Veterans during a 6-2 win against their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you enhance a excellent experienced side that have claimed back-to-back titles, including a double triumph boasting thirty wins from 32 games?

Recruit a collection of former professionals that have played at the highest tier of club and global football as you aim for more trophies.

One Manchester side fields an amateur vets squad with nine ex- Premier League footballers in their present squad.

222 Premier League Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Appearances

The team Vets Over 35s are located in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire Vets Division Premier Division.

Their lineup this campaign features nine ex- Premier League players, with a combined over 1,800 top-flight games.

This elite team also boasts over 220 top division goals and 325 international caps.

They feature Papiss Cisse, who scored 37 goals in over 100 games for Newcastle United after moving to them for £9m from German league side Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse made his debut for the team in their last home-field match against defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six scores in a 6-2 win - featuring a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's team for this season also includes former pros such as English and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

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

Famous Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned 6 Irish caps, netting four scores

Stephen Ireland began playing for the side in preseason this season through close mate and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then asked additional ex-pros, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side match, to participate.

Ex- Senegal forward Niasse, who scored twelve scores in 65 Premier League games for the Toffees and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut against Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and wear an Everton training kit as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse featured for Everton between 2016 and 2020

"A mate Stephen said 'come and play, it's good fun'," commented Niasse.

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

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

"Those spectators who turn up and watch are happy and to give a moment if they see us competing there and to ask us queries - it's really about the joy of us having a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

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

"It's a little different but then, I love running and just move forward - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

"I tell my defender 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to keep running.

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

Dreamlike' Experience

Along with the forward's six goals on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored 8 in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored 5 on his first appearance and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a hat-trick in one match up front.

The team are top of the Top Tier with 3 victories from 3 and a GD of +19.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for the opposition, faced former Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old boy who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at 2 global tournaments for his country, in as well as featuring in over two hundred Premier League games.

"The news was spreading like wildfire they had these former top-flight players," said Barrow.

"I think I was a bit starstruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

"Even Emile [Heskey] came on and he's got over 60 England appearances.

"We held our own for a good twenty mins but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

"Our group literally haven't stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the way home.

"The opponents were all friendly, shaking our hands after the match - it was like facing a bunch of regular guys.

"Now we are eager for the second match."

'We'll Still Take the Title'

The manager coaches the opposition veterans team, who secured the Premier Tier championship the previous campaign, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team scored 1-0 up and had a

Ashley Heath
Ashley Heath

A former casino consultant turned gaming blogger, sharing insider knowledge to help players maximize their enjoyment and success.