Meet this Weekend League Squad With 1,800 English Top Division Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans during a six-two victory 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 enhance a outstanding experienced side who have won back-to-back titles, featuring a league-cup double with 30 victories from 32 games?

Sign a group of former professionals who have played at the highest tier of club and global soccer as you aim for additional silverware.

One Greater Manchester club boasts an non-professional vets team with nine ex- top-flight footballers in their present squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are based in southern the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Top Tier.

The lineup this campaign boasts nine former top-flight players, with a collective over 1,800 Premier League games.

This elite squad also boasts 222 Premier League scores and 325 global caps.

They include one forward, who netted thirty-seven scores in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for £9m from German league club Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their last home match against defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and scored every one of the six goals in a 6-2 victory - featuring a 32-minute first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's squad for this campaign also features ex- professionals such as English and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former top-flight players have secured 15 significant honors and transferred for combined transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Famous Figures and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He won six Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring four goals

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the side in pre-season this season through good friend and present team teammate Blake Norton, and the former Irish player then asked other ex-pros, who all compete in a weekly small-sided game, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who netted twelve goals in 65 top-flight games for the Toffees and even now attends 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 played for Everton from 2016 and 2020

"My friend Stephen Ireland told me 'join and have a game, it's a laugh'," said Niasse.

"Then he informed me we were facing a team from Liverpool and the shock I had when I noticed them wearing Everton kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

"When you still love the game and you know you can still do it, anywhere you can play, what are you going to do?

"The fans who turn up and watch are pleased and to give someone's moment if they watch us competing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the joy of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the squad depth at the club, he made his first game at full-back.

"That's a little different but then, I love sprinting and just move inside - I'm not staying back that much," he added.

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

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

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

'Surreal Experience

Along with the forward's 6 goals on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored 8 in 3 games for the side, while Boyd scored five on his first appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a triple in one match up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Tier with 3 victories from three and a GD of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for the opposition, came up against ex- Latics defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at 2 World Cups for his country, in addition to featuring in over 200 Premier League games.

"It was spreading like wildfire they had all these former top-flight stars," said the player.

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

"Even Heskey got on and he's has 60-odd England caps.

"Our side held our own for a good twenty mins but then we had a man dismissed and it was tough.

"We literally have not ceased talking about it - I was calling my mother and brother on the journey home.

"The opponents were all dead sound, shaking our hands after the match - it was like facing a bunch of normal fellas.

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

We Will Still Take the League'

The manager coaches the opposition vets team, who secured the Top Division championship the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"We scored one-nil up and had a

Wendy Willis
Wendy Willis

A Dutch travel writer and cultural enthusiast, sharing personal stories and practical advice from years of exploring the Netherlands and beyond.