Discover this Weekend League Team Boasting Over 1,800 Premier League Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans during a six-two victory versus their opponents on October 19th (left to right) - one player, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you enhance a stellar experienced team who have secured back-to-back titles, including a league-cup double with 30 victories from 32 matches?

Recruit a collection of former pro players who have competed at the highest tier of club and global football as you target more silverware.

A Manchester team boasts an amateur veterans team with nine ex- top-flight footballers in their current squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Goals, 325 International Caps

The team Veterans Over 35s are located in south Manchester and compete in the Cheshire Vets Division Premier Division.

Their lineup this campaign includes nine ex- Premier League footballers, with a combined over 1,800 Premier League appearances.

This high-profile team also boasts 222 Premier League scores and 325 global appearances.

They include one forward, who scored 37 goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home game against reigning title holders Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six scores in a six-two win - featuring a 32-minute first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this season also features former professionals such as England and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former top-flight footballers have secured fifteen significant honors and moved for combined transfer fees of about £123m.

Household Names and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned 6 Irish appearances, netting four goals

Stephen Ireland began playing for the side in preseason this season through close friend and present team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then asked other ex-pros, who all play in a midweek small-sided match, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 goals in 65 Premier League matches for the Toffees and still attends their home games, also had his debut against the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and use an Everton warm-up gear as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse featured for the club between 2016 and 2020

"A mate Stephen Ireland told me 'join and have a game, it's a laugh'," said the striker.

"After that he told me we were playing a team from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Blue kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

"When you still love football and you know you can still do it, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

"The spectators who come and see are pleased and to give a moment if they see us playing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

So great is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his first game at full-back.

"It's a bit different but then, I love sprinting and just move inside - I'm not defending that much," he said.

"I tell my defender 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to keep running.

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

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

'Surreal Feeling

Along with Cisse's six goals on his first game, Stephen Ireland has netted eight in 3 appearances for the side, while George Boyd scored five on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a triple in one game as a striker.

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

One opponent, 38, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against ex- Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two World Cups for his country, in as well as playing in over 200 top-flight games.

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

"I felt I was a bit awestruck playing against Figueroa to be honest.

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

"Our side held our own for a good 20 mins but then we had a man dismissed and it was hard.

"Our group literally haven't ceased talking about it - I was phoning my mother and brother on the way home.

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

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

We Will Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition veterans team, who won the Premier Tier title last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"We went one-nil up and had a

Donna Green
Donna Green

A UK-based business strategist with over 15 years of experience in enterprise technology and digital transformation.