Discover this Weekend League Squad With Over 1,800 Premier League Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans in a 6-2 victory against Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you enhance a outstanding experienced side that have won back-to-back titles, featuring a league-cup double with thirty victories from thirty-two games?

Recruit a group of ex- pro players who have competed at the elite tier of club football and international football as you target more trophies.

A Greater Manchester club has an non-professional veterans team with nine former Premier League footballers in their current roster.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Scores, 325 Global Appearances

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

The squad list this season includes 9 former Premier League footballers, with a combined nearly 1,800 Premier League games.

The star-studded team also contains 222 top division scores and 325 international appearances.

They feature Papiss Cisse, who netted 37 goals in 117 appearances for his former club after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home match versus defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six goals in a 6-2 win - featuring a half-hour opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's roster for this campaign also includes former pros such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former top-flight players have claimed fifteen major honors and moved for total transfer fees of about £123 million.

Famous Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Republic of Ireland caps, netting 4 scores

Ireland began turning out for the side during preseason this summer through good mate and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish midfielder then invited other former professionals, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side match, to participate.

Ex- Senegal striker Niasse, who netted twelve goals in 65 Premier League games for the Toffees and even now goes to their home games, also made his first appearance against the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and use an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"A friend Stephen said 'join and have a game, it's a laugh'," commented Niasse.

"Then he informed me we were playing a side from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Everton kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

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

"Those spectators who come and watch are happy and to make someone's day if they watch us competing there and to ask us queries - it's really about the joy of us getting a place we can play, with organisation of course."

Such is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse had his first game at full-back.

"That's a bit 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.

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

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

Dreamlike' Feeling

Along with Cisse's 6 scores on debut, Ireland has netted 8 in 3 appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored five on his debut match and Lescott, a defender by position, scored a triple in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are top of the Premier Division with three victories from 3 and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for the opposition, came up against former Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 global tournaments for his country, in as well as featuring in over 200 Premier League matches.

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

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

"Even Heskey came on and he's got 60-odd English caps.

"We competed well for a solid twenty minutes but then we had a man dismissed and it was tough.

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

"They were all friendly, shaking our hands after the game - it was like facing a group of regular fellas.

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

We Will Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate veterans team, who won the Premier Division championship the previous campaign, together with his co-manager.

"We went one-nil up and had a

Francis Guzman
Francis Guzman

A digital strategist with over a decade of experience in helping brands optimize their online visibility and engagement.