Meet this Weekend League Club Boasting 1,800 English Top Division Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Veterans during a 6-2 triumph against their opponents on 19 October (from left to right) - one player, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you boost a outstanding experienced side that have secured consecutive championships, featuring a double triumph with thirty victories from 32 games?

Bring in a collection of ex- pro players who have performed at the top tier of club and global soccer as you aim for further honors.

A Greater Manchester team boasts an amateur vets squad with nine former Premier League players in their active roster.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, 325 Global Appearances

The team Veterans Over-35s are based in south the city and compete in the Cheshire Vets Division Premier Tier.

Their roster this campaign boasts 9 former top-flight footballers, with a total over 1,800 elite games.

The high-profile squad also contains 222 top division goals and 325 global caps.

They include Papiss Cisse, who netted thirty-seven goals in 117 games for Newcastle United after joining them for £9m from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse had his debut for the team in their most recent home match versus defending champions their rivals and scored every one of the six scores in a six-two victory - featuring a 32-minute first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this season also features former professionals such as England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- Premier League players have claimed fifteen major honors and transferred for combined transfer fees of around £123m.

Household Names and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Republic of Ireland appearances, netting four scores

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the team during preseason this summer through good friend and present team player Blake Norton, and the former Irish player then asked other ex-pros, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side game, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who netted twelve goals in sixty-five top-flight matches for the Toffees and still attends their home games, also made his debut against the opposition - who are located 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

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

"After that he informed me we were facing a team from the city and the shock I had when I noticed them sporting Blue shirts - I say this is strange for me!

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

"The spectators who come and see are pleased and to make someone's day if they watch us competing there and to ask us questions - 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 the club, Niasse made his debut at full-back.

"That's a bit unusual but then, I enjoy sprinting and just move forward - I'm not defending that much," he added.

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

"The movement is what I'm looking for. It's enjoyable."

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

'Surreal Experience

In addition to the forward's six scores on debut, Ireland has netted eight in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit five on his debut match and Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a hat-trick in one match up front.

The team are top of the Premier Tier with three victories from 3 and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, 38, who plays on the wing for the opposition, faced former Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 global tournaments for his country, in as well as featuring in over 200 top-flight matches.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had these former top-flight players," said the player.

"I felt I was a bit starstruck facing him to be honest.

"Also Heskey came on and he's got 60-odd English caps.

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

"We literally have not ceased talking about it - I was phoning my mother and sibling on the way home.

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

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

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition veterans side, who won the Top Division championship last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"We went one-nil ahead and had a

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