Meet this Weekend Division Squad Featuring Nearly Two Thousand English Top Division Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans in a 6-2 win against Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you improve a stellar veteran side that have claimed back-to-back titles, featuring a double triumph boasting 30 wins from thirty-two games?

Sign a raft of former pro players that have played at the highest tier of club football and international soccer as you target additional honors.

One Manchester club boasts an amateur vets squad with 9 ex- Premier League players in their current roster.

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

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are located in south the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans League Premier Division.

Their lineup this season features nine former top-flight footballers, with a combined over 1,800 top-flight games.

The elite squad also contains 222 top division goals and 325 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who scored thirty-seven scores in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from German league side Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse made his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home match versus defending champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored every one of the six goals in a 6-2 victory - including a half-hour opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's squad for this campaign also features former professionals such as English and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former top-flight footballers have secured 15 big trophies and moved for combined transfer fees of around £123m.

Household Figures and Global Stars

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

Stephen Ireland began playing for the side during pre-season this summer through close mate and current team player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then invited additional ex-pros, who all compete in a weekly small-sided match, to participate.

Ex- Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 goals in sixty-five top-flight games for Everton and even now goes to their home games, also made his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

"My mate Stephen said 'come and play, it's a laugh'," commented the striker.

"Then he told me we were playing a side from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Blue shirts - I thought this is strange for me!

"When you still enjoy football and you know you can still do it, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to do?

"Those spectators who turn up and see are pleased and to make a moment if they see us competing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the joy of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

So great is the bench strength at the club, he made his first game at defender.

"It's a bit different but then, I love running and just move forward - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

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

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

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

'Surreal Feeling

In addition to the forward's 6 scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in 3 appearances for the side, while George Boyd hit 5 on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a triple in one game as a striker.

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

One opponent, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for the opposition, faced former Wigan full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to featuring in more than two hundred Premier League matches.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had these former top-flight players," remarked the player.

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

"Even Heskey got on and he's has 60-odd English appearances.

"Our side competed well for a solid twenty mins but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

"We literally haven't ceased talking about it - I was calling my mother and sibling on the way home.

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

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

'We'll Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition veterans team, who secured the Top Division championship the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went one-nil ahead and had a

Autumn Nielsen
Autumn Nielsen

A dedicated health educator with over 10 years of experience in medical training and wellness advocacy.