Meet this Weekend League Team Boasting Over 1,800 Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for the team Veterans during a 6-2 triumph versus their opponents on 19 October (left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you improve a stellar veteran side that have secured consecutive titles, featuring a double triumph boasting 30 victories from 32 matches?

Recruit a collection of ex- pro players that have played at the highest tier of club and global football as you pursue further trophies.

One Greater Manchester club boasts an amateur veterans squad with 9 ex- top-flight footballers in their current lineup.

222 Premier League Scores, 325 Global Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are situated in southern the city and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans League Premier Tier.

Their squad list this season features 9 ex- Premier League footballers, with a total nearly 1,800 elite appearances.

The elite team also includes 222 top division scores and over 320 global appearances.

The squad include one forward, who netted 37 goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for nine million pounds from German league side Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse made his debut for the team in their last home game versus defending champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six scores in a six-two win - including a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's roster for this season also includes ex- pros such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former Premier League players have won 15 significant trophies and moved for combined transfer fees of around £123m.

Well-Known Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He won 6 Republic of Ireland caps, scoring four scores

Stephen Ireland started playing for the side in pre-season this summer through close friend and current Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the former Irish midfielder then invited additional former professionals, who all compete in a weekly small-sided game, to participate.

Former Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 goals in 65 Premier League matches for Everton and still goes to their home games, also made his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

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

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

"After that he told me we were facing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Everton kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

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

"Those people who come and see are happy and to give a moment if they see us playing there and to pose us queries - it's more like the joy of us getting a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

So great is the bench strength at the club, Niasse made his debut at full-back.

"That's a little unusual but then, I enjoy running and just move inside - I'm not defending that much," he said.

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

"That running is what I'm seeking. It's good fun."

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

Unreal Scenario

In addition to the forward's six goals on his first game, Ireland has netted 8 in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored 5 on his debut appearance and Lescott, a defender by position, scored a triple in one match as a striker.

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

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two global tournaments for his country, in as well as playing in more than 200 Premier League games.

"It was going round like wildfire they had these former top-flight players," remarked Barrow.

"I think I was a little awestruck playing against him to be honest.

"Even Emile [Heskey] came on and he's has over 60 England caps.

"We held our own for a good twenty minutes but then we had a man dismissed and it was tough.

"We literally haven't ceased talking about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the journey home.

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

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

We Will Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition vets side, who secured the Top Division championship last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went 1-0 ahead and had a

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