Meet this Weekend Division Team Boasting Over 1,800 English Top Division Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Vets in a six-two win against their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you boost a outstanding veteran team who have secured back-to-back titles, including a double triumph boasting 30 victories from 32 matches?

Bring in a raft of ex- professionals who have performed at the highest tier of club and international football as you pursue further trophies.

A Greater Manchester side fields an non-professional veterans squad with 9 ex- top-flight players in their active lineup.

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

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are located in south Manchester and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Top Tier.

Their roster this campaign boasts 9 former top-flight footballers, with a combined 1,801 elite games.

This elite squad also includes 222 top division scores and over 320 international appearances.

The squad include one forward, who netted thirty-seven goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after joining them for £9m from German league side Freiburg in 2012.

He had his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home game against reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted all six scores in a 6-2 win - featuring a 32-minute opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's roster for this campaign also includes ex- professionals such as English and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- Premier League footballers have secured 15 significant honors and moved for combined transfer sums of around £123m.

Household Figures and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won 6 Irish caps, netting four goals

Stephen Ireland started playing for the side in preseason this season through good friend and present Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then asked additional ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side match, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese forward Niasse, who scored twelve scores in 65 Premier League matches for the Toffees and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut against Collegiate OB - who are based in Liverpool and use an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

"A friend Stephen Ireland told me 'join and have a game, it's enjoyable'," commented Niasse.

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

"When you still love the game and you feel you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to choose?

"Those fans who turn up and watch are pleased and to give someone's day if they see us playing there and to pose us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the bench strength at the club, Niasse had his debut at full-back.

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

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa is playing for the team

'Surreal Feeling

In addition to Cisse's six goals on his first game, Ireland has scored 8 in three appearances for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored five on his first appearance and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a triple in one game up front.

The team are leading of the Premier Tier with three wins from three and a goal difference of +19.

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two global tournaments for his country, in as well as featuring in over 200 top-flight games.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had these former top-flight stars," remarked the player.

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

"Also Heskey got on and he's got 60-odd England appearances.

"Our side held our own for a solid 20 minutes but then we had a player dismissed and it was hard.

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

"They were all dead sound, shaking our hands after the match - it was like facing a group of regular guys.

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

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition veterans side, who secured the Premier Division title last season, along with his co-manager.

"Our team went one-nil up and had a

Peter Ibarra
Peter Ibarra

A passionate astrophysicist and science writer, sharing discoveries and inspiring the next generation of space explorers.