Introduce this Weekend League Squad Featuring Over 1,800 Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Vets in a 6-2 win against their opponents on 19 October (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you enhance a outstanding experienced side who have secured consecutive championships, featuring a league-cup double boasting 30 victories from thirty-two matches?

Bring in a raft of ex- professionals that have played at the highest tier of club and international football as you pursue more silverware.

A Manchester team has an non-professional vets squad with 9 former Premier League players in their current squad.

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

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are based in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire Vets Division Premier Division.

The lineup this campaign boasts 9 ex- top-flight footballers, with a combined over 1,800 Premier League matches.

This star-studded roster also boasts 222 Premier League goals and 325 international appearances.

The squad feature Papiss Cisse, who scored 37 goals in 117 appearances for his former club after signing for them for nine million pounds from German league club Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his debut for the team in their last home-field game against reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six scores in a 6-2 victory - including a 32-minute first-half triple.

The squad for this campaign also includes former professionals such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton forward 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 ex- top-flight footballers have won 15 major honors and transferred for total transfer sums of about £123m.

Household Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Irish appearances, netting 4 goals

Ireland began turning out for the team in pre-season this summer through close mate and current team player Blake Norton, and the former Irish midfielder then asked other former professionals, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side match, to participate.

Former Senegalese striker Niasse, who netted 12 scores in sixty-five Premier League matches for the Toffees and even now attends their matches at Goodison Park, also made his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"My friend Stephen told me 'come and have a game, it's good fun'," commented the striker.

"Then he told me we were playing a side from Liverpool and the shock I had when I noticed them sporting Blue kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

"If you still enjoy football and you know you can still play, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"Those people who turn up and see are happy and to make someone's moment if they watch us playing there and to ask us queries - it's really about the joy of us getting a place we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, he made his debut at defender.

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

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is turning out for the team

'Surreal Feeling

Along with Cisse's 6 scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in 3 appearances for the side, while George Boyd scored five on his first match and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a triple in one game up front.

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

One opponent, 38, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Wigan full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 World Cups for his country, in as well as featuring in more than 200 Premier League games.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had these ex-Premier League players," remarked the player.

"I felt I was a bit starstruck playing against him to be honest.

"Also Emile [Heskey] came on and he's has 60-odd English appearances.

"We competed well for a good 20 mins but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

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

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

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

'We'll Still Win the Title'

The manager coaches the opposition veterans side, who won the Top Division championship the previous campaign, along with his co-manager.

"We went one-nil ahead and had a

Jason Sloan
Jason Sloan

A Milan-based travel enthusiast and local expert, sharing insider tips and hidden gems for exploring the city.