Introduce this Weekend Division Squad Boasting Over 1,800 Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for Wythenshawe Vets in a 6-2 victory against Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you improve a stellar veteran squad who have claimed consecutive championships, including a double triumph boasting 30 wins from 32 matches?

Sign a raft of former pro players that have played at the elite tier of club football and global soccer as you aim for additional trophies.

A Manchester club fields an non-professional vets squad with 9 ex- top-flight footballers in their present squad.

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

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are situated in south the city and play in the Cheshire-based Vets League Top Tier.

The roster this season features nine former top-flight footballers, with a total over 1,800 elite matches.

The high-profile squad also boasts over 220 top division scores and over 320 international caps.

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

He had his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home-field match against reigning title holders their rivals and netted every one of the six scores in a six-two win - including a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

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

Together, the former Premier League players have secured 15 major trophies and transferred for combined transfer sums of about £123m.

Household Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He won 6 Irish appearances, netting four goals

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the side during preseason this season through good friend and present team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then asked additional former professionals, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side game, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 goals in 65 top-flight games for Everton and even now attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his first appearance versus the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Everton training kit as their strip.

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

"A mate Stephen Ireland told me 'join and have a game, it's a laugh'," said the striker.

"After that he informed me we were playing a side from the city and the shock I had when I saw them sporting Everton shirts - I say this is strange for me!

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

"The spectators who turn up and see are happy and to make someone's day if they watch us competing there and to pose us questions - it's really about the joy of us having a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

So great is the strength in depth at the club, he had his debut at defender.

"That's a bit different but then, I enjoy running and just move forward - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

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

"That movement 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

Dreamlike' Experience

In addition to the forward's six goals on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in three appearances for the side, while Boyd hit five on his first appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a triple in one game up front.

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

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young boy who Heskey was.

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

"The news was spreading like wildfire they had all these ex-Premier League players," said the player.

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

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

"Our side competed well for a solid 20 minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

"Our group really have not stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the journey home.

"The opponents were all really nice, shaking our hands after the game - it was like playing a group of regular fellas.

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

'We'll Still Win the League'

The manager manages the opposition veterans team, who secured the Top Division championship last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went one-nil ahead and had a

Kayla Williams
Kayla Williams

A passionate gamer and tech enthusiast with a decade of experience in game journalism and community building.

September 2026 Blog Roll

March 2026 Blog Roll

February 2026 Blog Roll

Popular Post