Meet this Weekend Division Club Boasting Over 1,800 Premier League Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for the team Veterans in a six-two triumph against their opponents on October 19th (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you enhance a stellar veteran team that have won back-to-back titles, featuring a double triumph with 30 wins from 32 games?

Recruit a collection of ex- pro players that have competed at the highest level of club football and global football as you pursue more silverware.

One Manchester club boasts an amateur vets team with nine ex- top-flight footballers in their active lineup.

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

The team Veterans Over 35s are located in south the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets League Top Tier.

Their roster this campaign includes 9 former Premier League players, with a collective 1,801 Premier League games.

The high-profile roster also contains over 220 Premier League goals and over 320 global caps.

The squad feature Papiss Cisse, who notched thirty-seven scores in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after joining them for nine million pounds from German league club SC Freiburg in January 2012.

He had his first appearance for the team in their last home-field game against reigning title holders their rivals and scored every one of the six goals in a six-two victory - featuring a 32-minute opening period triple.

The team for this season also features ex- professionals such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight players have won 15 major trophies and transferred for combined transfer sums of around £123 million.

Household Names and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring 4 scores

Ireland began playing for the side during pre-season this summer through good mate and current team player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited additional ex-pros, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side game, to participate.

Former Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 goals in sixty-five Premier League games for Everton and still goes to their home games, also had his debut against Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

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

"Then he told me we were playing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Blue kits - I say this is wrong for me!

"If you still love football and you feel you can still play, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to do?

"The spectators who turn up and see are pleased and to give a moment if they watch us competing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the joy of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, he had his debut at full-back.

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

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for the team

'Surreal Scenario

In addition to Cisse's six scores on his first game, Ireland has netted eight in three appearances for Wythenshawe, while Boyd hit five on his debut match and Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a triple in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Tier with 3 wins from 3 and a GD of +19.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his nine-year-old boy who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at 2 global tournaments for his country, in as well as featuring in over two hundred Premier League games.

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

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

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

"Our side held our own for a good 20 mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was hard.

"We really haven't stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the way home.

"They were all really nice, shaking our hands after the match - it was like playing a bunch of regular guys.

"Now we are eager for the return fixture."

'We'll Still Win the League'

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

"We went one-nil ahead and had a

Deborah Morris
Deborah Morris

A freelance writer and digital nomad passionate about storytelling and cultural exploration.