Introduce this Weekend League Club Boasting Over 1,800 English Top Division Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for Wythenshawe Vets in a six-two victory against their opponents on October 19th (left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you boost a outstanding experienced team that have claimed back-to-back titles, featuring a league-cup double boasting 30 wins from thirty-two games?

Sign a raft of ex- pro players who have competed at the highest level of club and international football as you target further silverware.

A Greater Manchester team has an non-professional vets squad with 9 former Premier League players in their present lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Goals, 325 International Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are situated in south Manchester and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Top Division.

Their lineup this campaign boasts 9 former top-flight footballers, with a combined over 1,800 top-flight matches.

This high-profile roster also boasts 222 Premier League goals and 325 global appearances.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who scored thirty-seven scores in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from German league club SC Freiburg in 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home game versus defending title holders their rivals and scored all six goals in a six-two win - including a half-hour first-half triple.

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

In total, the ex- Premier League players have won fifteen significant trophies and transferred for combined transfer fees of about £123 million.

Well-Known Names and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won 6 Republic of Ireland caps, netting 4 goals

Ireland started turning out for the side during pre-season this season through close friend and present team player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then invited additional ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek small-sided match, to join in.

Former Senegalese forward Niasse, who netted twelve goals in sixty-five top-flight games for Everton and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also made his first appearance versus the opposition - who are located in the city and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse featured for the club between 2016 and 2020

"A mate Stephen said 'come and have a game, it's a laugh'," commented Niasse.

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

"When you still love the game and you know you can still do it, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"The spectators who come and see are pleased and to make a moment if they watch us playing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the joy of us having a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

So great is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, he made his first game at full-back.

"That's a little different but then, I enjoy running and just move 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 enjoyable."

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to Cisse's six goals on his first game, Ireland has netted eight in 3 games for the side, while Boyd hit 5 on his first match and Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a triple in one match as a striker.

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

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the wing for the opposition, faced former Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two World Cups for his country, in addition to featuring in over 200 Premier League games.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League stars," said the player.

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

"Even Heskey came on and he's got over 60 English caps.

"We competed well for a solid 20 minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was hard.

"Our group literally haven't ceased chatting about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the way home.

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

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

We Will Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition veterans side, who won the Premier Tier championship the previous campaign, together with Paul Maguire.

"We went one-nil ahead and had a

Nathaniel Sanders
Nathaniel Sanders

A writer and philosopher exploring the intersections of chance, psychology, and human experience through engaging narratives.