Discover this Sunday Division Team Featuring Over 1,800 Top-Flight Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans in a six-two win versus Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (from left to right) - one player, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you improve a excellent experienced team who have won consecutive championships, featuring a league-cup double boasting 30 wins from 32 matches?

Recruit a collection of former professionals that have competed at the elite level of club football and international soccer as you target additional trophies.

A Greater Manchester side boasts an amateur vets squad with 9 ex- top-flight footballers in their present roster.

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

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are situated in south the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Premier Tier.

The roster this campaign features 9 former Premier League footballers, with a collective nearly 1,800 elite games.

The star-studded squad also boasts 222 Premier League goals and over 320 global caps.

They feature one forward, who scored thirty-seven scores in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after joining them for £9m from Bundesliga side Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his debut for the team in their most recent home-field match versus reigning champions their rivals and netted every one of the six scores in a 6-2 win - featuring a half-hour opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's squad for this campaign also features ex- pros such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the former Premier League players have claimed 15 big trophies and transferred for total transfer fees of around £123m.

Household Figures and Global Stars

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

Stephen Ireland began playing for the team during pre-season this summer through close mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then asked additional ex-pros, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side game, to join in.

Ex- Senegal striker Niasse, who netted 12 scores in 65 Premier League matches for Everton and even now attends their home games, also made his first appearance against the opposition - who are based in the city and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

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

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

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

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

"Those people who come and see are pleased and to give a moment if they see us competing there and to ask us queries - it's really about the joy of us having a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

So great is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, he made his debut at full-back.

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

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

Unreal Experience

In addition to the forward's 6 scores on his first game, Ireland has scored 8 in three games for the side, while George Boyd hit 5 on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, scored a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Division with three victories from 3 and a GD of +19.

One opponent, 38, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against ex- Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two global tournaments for Honduras, in as well as featuring in over 200 Premier League games.

"The news was going round like a rumor they had all these former top-flight players," remarked Barrow.

"I think I was a bit starstruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

"Also Emile [Heskey] got on and he's has over 60 England appearances.

"We held our own for a solid 20 minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

"We really have not stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mother and sibling on the journey home.

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

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

We Will Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate veterans side, who won the Top Division title the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"We scored one-nil up and had a

Amber Chang
Amber Chang

A Toronto-based tech strategist with over a decade of experience in digital innovation and startup advisory roles across Canada.

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