Introduce this Weekend Division Squad Featuring 1,800 English Top Division Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans in a 6-2 win versus Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you boost a stellar experienced side that have claimed back-to-back titles, featuring a double triumph boasting 30 victories from thirty-two games?

Recruit a group of former professionals who have performed at the highest tier of club and international football as you pursue further silverware.

A Manchester team has an amateur veterans squad with 9 ex- top-flight footballers in their current roster.

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

The team Vets Over-35s are located in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Top Division.

The lineup this season features 9 ex- top-flight footballers, with a combined nearly 1,800 elite matches.

This elite roster also includes over 220 top division scores and 325 global appearances.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who netted thirty-seven goals in 117 games for Newcastle United after joining them for £9m from German league side Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse made 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 six-two victory - including a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's squad for this campaign also includes former pros such as England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- Premier League players have claimed 15 significant honors and moved for combined transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Well-Known Figures and International Stars

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

Stephen Ireland began playing for the team during pre-season this season through close friend and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited other ex-pros, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side game, to join in.

Former Senegal forward Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve goals in sixty-five Premier League games for the Toffees and even now attends their home games, also made his debut versus Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

"My friend Stephen told me 'join and play, it's good fun'," said Niasse.

"After that he informed me we were playing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Blue kits - I thought this is strange for me!

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

"The fans who come and see are pleased and to give a moment if they see us competing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the pleasure of us getting a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

So great is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his debut at full-back.

"It's a bit different but then, I love sprinting and just go forward - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

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

"That movement is what I'm looking for. It's enjoyable."

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

Dreamlike' Feeling

Along with the forward's six scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in 3 games for the side, while George Boyd scored 5 on his first appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Tier with 3 victories from 3 and a goal difference of +19.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who features on the wing for the opposition, came up against ex- Latics defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 global tournaments for his country, in as well as featuring in over 200 top-flight games.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had all these ex-Premier League players," said Barrow.

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

"Also Heskey came on and he's got 60-odd English caps.

"We competed well for a good 20 mins but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

"Our group really have not stopped talking about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the way home.

"The opponents were all really nice, shaking our hands after the match - it was like facing a bunch of normal guys.

"Now we can't wait for the second fixture."

'We'll Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate veterans team, who secured the Premier Tier championship last season, together with his co-manager.

"We scored one-nil up and had a

Alison Mann
Alison Mann

An avid hiker and environmental writer sharing personal journeys and practical advice for nature enthusiasts.