Introduce this Weekend League Squad With Over 1,800 English Top Division Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for Wythenshawe Veterans in a six-two win 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 boost a outstanding veteran team who have secured back-to-back championships, featuring a league-cup double boasting 30 wins from 32 matches?

Sign a collection of former professionals that have played at the elite level of club football and global soccer as you aim for further honors.

A Manchester club fields an non-professional vets team with nine former Premier League footballers in their active roster.

222 Premier League Scores, 325 Global Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are situated in south the city and play in the Cheshire Vets Division Top Division.

The squad list this campaign includes 9 ex- Premier League footballers, with a total 1,801 Premier League appearances.

This elite roster also contains 222 top division scores and 325 global appearances.

The squad feature Papiss Cisse, who scored 37 scores in 117 appearances for his former club after joining them for £9m from German league side Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse had his debut for the team in their last home game versus reigning title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six scores in a 6-2 win - featuring a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's squad for this season also includes ex- pros such as English and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former Premier League players have secured 15 significant trophies and transferred for combined transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Well-Known Figures and Global Players

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

Ireland began turning out for the team during pre-season this season through good friend and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then invited other former professionals, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side game, to participate.

Former Senegalese striker Niasse, who netted 12 scores in 65 top-flight games for the Toffees and even now goes to their home games, also made his debut versus Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and use an Blue training kit as their strip.

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

"A friend Stephen Ireland told me 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

"After that he informed me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Everton shirts - I say this is wrong for me!

"If you still enjoy the game and you feel you can still play, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

"Those spectators who turn up and watch are happy and to make someone's day if they see us competing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the joy of us having a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

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

"That's a little different but then, I love sprinting and just go forward - I'm not defending that much," he added.

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

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

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to the forward's 6 goals on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in 3 games for the side, while George Boyd hit five on his first appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Top Tier with 3 victories from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced former Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 World Cups for his country, in addition to playing in over 200 Premier League matches.

"It was going round like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League players," remarked the player.

"I think I was a little awestruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

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

"We held our own for a good twenty mins but then we had a player sent off and it was hard.

"Our group really haven't ceased chatting about it - I was calling my mother and brother on the journey home.

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

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

We Will Still Win the Title'

The manager manages the Collegiate veterans team, who secured the Top Tier championship the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"We went 1-0 up and had a

Tyler Horn
Tyler Horn

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about emerging technologies and their impact on society, sharing insights and discoveries.