Meet this Sunday Division Team With 1,800 Premier League Games

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

How can you boost a excellent veteran side who have claimed back-to-back titles, including a double triumph boasting 30 wins from 32 games?

Recruit a collection of ex- professionals who have competed at the top level of club football and global soccer as you aim for additional trophies.

A Greater Manchester team boasts an amateur veterans squad with 9 former Premier League footballers in their current lineup.

222 Top Division Goals, 325 Global Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over-35s are situated in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Vets League Top Tier.

The squad list this campaign features 9 former top-flight players, with a total over 1,800 elite matches.

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

They feature one forward, who netted 37 scores in 117 games for his former club after moving to them for nine million pounds from German league side Freiburg in 2012.

He had his first appearance for the team in their most recent home game versus defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and scored every one of the six scores in a six-two win - including a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's roster for this campaign also features ex- professionals such as England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the ex- Premier League footballers have won fifteen significant trophies and moved for total transfer sums of around £123 million.

Household Figures and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won 6 Irish appearances, scoring 4 goals

Stephen Ireland began playing for the side during preseason this summer through good friend and current team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited additional former professionals, who all play in a midweek small-sided match, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese forward Niasse, who scored 12 goals in 65 top-flight games for Everton and even now attends their matches at Goodison Park, also made his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are based in Liverpool and use an Everton training kit as their strip.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
He played for Everton between 2016 and 2020

"A friend Stephen told me 'come and play, it's a laugh'," said Niasse.

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

"When you still enjoy the game and you know you can still play, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"The people who turn up and see are happy and to make someone's day if they watch us playing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the strength in depth at the club, Niasse had his first game at full-back.

"That's a little unusual but then, I enjoy sprinting and just move forward - I'm not defending that much," he said.

"I warn my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to keep attacking.

"The running is what I'm looking for. It's enjoyable."

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

Dreamlike' Experience

In addition to the forward's six scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has netted eight in three appearances for the side, while George Boyd scored 5 on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a triple in one game up front.

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

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for the opposition, came up against former Latics defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 global tournaments for his country, in addition to featuring in over 200 Premier League games.

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

"I think I was a little starstruck playing against him to be honest.

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

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

"Our group really have not stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the journey home.

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

"Now we are eager for the second fixture."

'We'll Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate vets team, who secured the Premier Division championship the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"We went 1-0 up and had a

Anthony Jackson
Anthony Jackson

A certified massage therapist with over 10 years of experience, specializing in deep tissue and Swedish techniques to promote holistic health.