Introduce the Weekend League Team Featuring 1,800 Top-Flight Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for the team Vets in a six-two 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 can you boost a excellent veteran team that have claimed back-to-back titles, featuring a double triumph boasting 30 wins from thirty-two games?

Recruit a collection of ex- professionals who have competed at the highest tier of club and international football as you pursue additional trophies.

A Manchester side boasts an non-professional veterans squad with nine ex- Premier League footballers in their present lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, 325 International Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are based in southern Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans League Top Division.

Their squad list this season features 9 ex- top-flight footballers, with a combined 1,801 top-flight games.

The star-studded team also boasts over 220 top division scores and over 320 international appearances.

The squad include one forward, who notched thirty-seven scores in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after joining them for nine million pounds from German league side Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for the team in their last home match versus defending title holders their rivals and scored all six scores in a six-two win - including a half-hour opening period triple.

The team for this campaign also includes ex- pros such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- top-flight footballers have claimed 15 significant trophies and moved for total transfer sums of about £123m.

Well-Known Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won 6 Irish appearances, netting 4 scores

Ireland began turning out for the side during preseason this summer through good friend and current team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then asked additional ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek small-sided match, to join in.

Former Senegalese striker Niasse, who scored twelve scores in 65 top-flight games for Everton and even now attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"A friend Stephen Ireland said 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," said Niasse.

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

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

"The people who come and watch are pleased and to give someone's moment if they see us competing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the joy of us getting a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the strength in depth at the club, he made his debut at full-back.

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

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa is turning out for the team

Unreal Experience

In addition to the forward's six scores on debut, Ireland has scored 8 in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, notched a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

The team are leading of the Top Division with three wins from three and a GD of +19.

One opponent, 38, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against former Wigan defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

He has appeared at two World Cups for Honduras, in addition to featuring in more than 200 top-flight matches.

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

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

"Even Heskey got on and he's got over 60 English appearances.

"We held our own for a solid twenty minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was hard.

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

"The opponents were all friendly, shaking our hands after the game - it was like playing a bunch of regular fellas.

"Now we are eager for the second match."

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate veterans side, who secured the Premier Tier title the previous campaign, together with his co-manager.

"Our team scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Scott Romero
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