Introduce this Weekend Division Team Boasting Nearly Two Thousand Top-Flight Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for the team Vets in a 6-2 win against their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you boost a excellent veteran squad who have won back-to-back championships, featuring a double triumph boasting thirty wins from 32 games?

Sign a collection of ex- professionals that have played at the top level of club football and global football as you pursue additional honors.

One Greater Manchester team fields an amateur veterans team with 9 ex- top-flight players in their active lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Scores, 325 International Caps

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

The lineup this season features nine former top-flight players, with a combined nearly 1,800 Premier League games.

The star-studded squad also includes 222 Premier League goals and 325 global appearances.

The squad feature Papiss Cisse, who scored 37 scores in over 100 appearances for his former club after moving to them for £9m from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his debut for the team in their last home-field game against reigning title holders their rivals and scored every one of the six scores in a 6-2 win - including a 32-minute opening period triple.

The team for this season also includes ex- professionals such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- Premier League players have claimed 15 major honors and transferred for combined transfer fees of about £123m.

Well-Known Names and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Republic of Ireland caps, netting four goals

Ireland began turning out for the team in preseason this season through good mate and present team teammate Blake Norton, and the former Irish midfielder then invited additional former professionals, who all play in a weekly small-sided match, to join in.

Former Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who netted twelve goals in 65 Premier League games for the Toffees and even now attends their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut against the opposition - who are located in the city and wear an Everton training kit as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
He played for the club from 2016 and 2020

"My friend Stephen said 'come and play, 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 saw them wearing Blue shirts - I thought this is strange for me!

"If you still love the game and you feel you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to do?

"Those people who come and see are pleased and to give someone's moment if they see us competing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the joy of us getting somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the bench strength at Wythenshawe, Niasse had his debut at defender.

"It's a little unusual but then, I love running and just go forward - I'm not staying back that much," he added.

"I warn my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to keep attacking.

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

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

'Surreal Feeling

Along with Cisse's six scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in three games for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored 5 on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, notched a triple in one game as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Top Tier with 3 wins from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against former Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

He has appeared at two World Cups for Honduras, in as well as featuring in over two hundred top-flight matches.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had all these ex-Premier League players," said Barrow.

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

"Also Heskey came on and he's has over 60 English appearances.

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

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

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

"Now we are eager for the return match."

'We'll Still Win the Title'

The manager coaches the opposition vets team, who secured the Top Tier title last season, along with his co-manager.

"Our team scored one-nil ahead and had a

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John Harper

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