Discover this Weekend League Club Boasting Over 1,800 Top-Flight Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Vets during a 6-2 triumph 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 can you improve a outstanding experienced squad who have won back-to-back titles, featuring a league-cup double boasting thirty wins from thirty-two matches?

Recruit a raft of ex- pro players that have performed at the highest level of club and international soccer as you target additional trophies.

A Greater Manchester side fields an non-professional vets squad with 9 ex- top-flight footballers in their present squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Appearances

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

The roster this campaign includes 9 ex- Premier League players, with a combined over 1,800 Premier League matches.

This elite team also boasts 222 top division scores and over 320 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who netted thirty-seven goals in 117 games for his former club after moving to them for £9m from German league club SC Freiburg in 2012.

He made his debut for the team in their last home match versus reigning title holders their rivals and netted all six goals in a 6-2 victory - including a half-hour first-half triple.

The roster for this campaign also includes former professionals such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League players have won fifteen big trophies and transferred for combined transfer fees of around £123 million.

Well-Known Figures and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned 6 Irish appearances, netting 4 scores

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the team in pre-season this summer through good mate and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then invited additional ex-pros, who all compete in a weekly small-sided match, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese striker Niasse, who netted twelve scores in sixty-five Premier League games for Everton and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also made his first appearance versus the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and use an Everton training kit as their strip.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse played for Everton from 2016 and 2020

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

"Then he informed me we were playing a side from the city and the shock I had when I saw them wearing Everton kits - I say this is wrong for me!

"When you still love the game and you feel you can still do it, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to do?

"Those fans who turn up and watch are happy and to make a day if they watch us playing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can play, with organisation of course."

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

"That's a bit unusual but then, I enjoy sprinting and just go inside - I'm not staying back that much," he added.

"I tell my defender 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to keep 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 playing for the team

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to the forward's 6 scores on his first game, Ireland has scored eight in three games for Wythenshawe, while Boyd hit 5 on his first match and Lescott, a defender by position, scored a triple in one game as a striker.

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

One opponent, 38, who plays on the flank for the opposition, faced former Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young son who Heskey was.

He has played at two global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to featuring in more than 200 top-flight matches.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had these former top-flight stars," said the player.

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

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

"Our side competed well for a good 20 mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was hard.

"We literally have not stopped talking about it - I was phoning my mum and sibling on the journey home.

"They 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 fixture."

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition veterans side, who won the Top Division title last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went one-nil up and had a

John Shepherd
John Shepherd

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