Meet the Weekend League Club Boasting Over 1,800 Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for the team Veterans during a six-two victory versus their opponents on 19 October (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you improve a stellar experienced squad who have claimed consecutive championships, featuring a double triumph with 30 victories from 32 matches?

Recruit a raft of ex- pro players that have played at the highest tier of club football and global football as you pursue additional trophies.

One Manchester club fields an non-professional vets squad with nine ex- Premier League players in their current squad.

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

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are based in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Premier Tier.

Their squad list this season includes nine former top-flight players, with a collective 1,801 Premier League games.

This high-profile team also contains over 220 top division goals and over 320 global appearances.

They include Papiss Cisse, who scored 37 scores in over 100 games for his former club after moving to them for nine million pounds from German league side SC Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his first appearance for the team in their last home match versus reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six goals in a six-two victory - including a half-hour opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this season also includes ex- pros such as English and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- top-flight footballers have claimed 15 major trophies and moved for total transfer fees of around £123 million.

Famous Figures and Global Players

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

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the team in preseason this season through good friend and present team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish midfielder then invited additional former professionals, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side match, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese striker Niasse, who scored 12 scores in 65 Premier League games for the Toffees and still attends their home games, also made his debut against the opposition - who are based in the city and use an Blue training kit as their strip.

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

"A mate Stephen Ireland said 'join and play, it's enjoyable'," said Niasse.

"After that he told me we were playing a side from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Everton kits - I say this is wrong for me!

"When you still enjoy the game and you feel you can still play, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

"Those spectators who come and see are pleased and to give someone's day if they watch us competing there and to pose us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us getting a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the squad depth at the club, he made his first game at defender.

"It's a bit unusual but then, I love sprinting and just move forward - I'm not defending that much," he added.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa is turning out for the team

'Surreal Feeling

Along with the forward's 6 goals on debut, Ireland has netted 8 in three appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit five on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a triple in one game up front.

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

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against former Wigan defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young son who Heskey was.

He has played at two World Cups for his country, in addition to featuring in more than 200 Premier League games.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had all these former top-flight players," said Barrow.

"I felt I was a bit starstruck facing him to be honest.

"Even Emile [Heskey] got on and he's has 60-odd English caps.

"We held our own for a good twenty minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was hard.

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

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

"Now we are eager for the return fixture."

We Will Still Win the Title'

The manager manages the Collegiate veterans team, who won the Premier Division championship the previous campaign, together with Paul Maguire.

"We scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Helen Houston
Helen Houston

Elara Vance is a seasoned gaming journalist specializing in UK casino trends and slot analysis, with over a decade of industry experience.