Meet this Weekend League Team Featuring Nearly Two Thousand Top-Flight Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for the team Vets in a six-two triumph against their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - one player, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you improve a excellent veteran team that have secured back-to-back championships, featuring a league-cup double with thirty wins from thirty-two matches?

Bring in a collection of ex- pro players who have played at the top tier of club and international soccer as you aim for additional trophies.

One Greater Manchester club boasts an non-professional veterans team with 9 ex- top-flight players in their current squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are situated in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire Veterans League Premier Tier.

The squad list this season boasts 9 ex- Premier League footballers, with a collective 1,801 elite appearances.

This elite roster also includes over 220 Premier League goals and over 320 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who netted 37 goals in over 100 games for Newcastle United after joining them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in 2012.

He had his first appearance for the team in their last home game versus reigning champions their rivals and scored every one of the six scores in a six-two victory - featuring a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

The team for this season also includes former pros such as England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League players have secured fifteen major trophies and moved for combined transfer fees of about £123m.

Household Figures and International Players

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

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the side in preseason this summer through close friend and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then invited additional former professionals, who all compete in a weekly small-sided match, to participate.

Former Senegal striker Niasse, who scored twelve goals in 65 top-flight games for Everton and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut against Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and use an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse played for Everton between 2016 and 2020

"My friend Stephen Ireland told me 'come and have a game, it's good fun'," said Niasse.

"After that he told me we were playing a side from Liverpool and the shock I had when I noticed them wearing Blue kits - I thought this is strange for me!

"When you still enjoy football and you feel you can still play, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to do?

"Those people who come and see are pleased and to make a day if they watch us competing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us having a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the squad depth at the club, Niasse had his debut at full-back.

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

"I tell my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to continue attacking.

"The running is what I'm looking for. It's good fun."

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

Unreal Experience

Along with the forward's six goals on his first game, Ireland has scored 8 in 3 games for the side, while Boyd scored five on his debut match and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Division with 3 victories from 3 and a goal difference of +19.

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the wing for the opposition, came up against ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two global tournaments for his country, in as well as playing in over 200 Premier League matches.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League stars," said Barrow.

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

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

"Our side competed well for a good 20 minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

"Our group really have not stopped chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and sibling on the journey home.

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

"Now we are eager for the second match."

'We'll Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate vets team, who won the Top Division title last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went one-nil up and had a

Heather Brown
Heather Brown

Eleanor is a children's play therapist and educator with 15 years of experience in fostering creativity through play.