Introduce this Weekend League Team With Over 1,800 Premier League Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans during a six-two win versus Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you boost a stellar veteran side who have claimed back-to-back titles, featuring a double triumph boasting thirty wins from 32 games?

Recruit a group of ex- professionals who have played at the elite level of club football and international soccer as you pursue more trophies.

A Manchester club has an amateur vets team with 9 ex- top-flight players in their active roster.

222 Premier League Goals, 325 International Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are located in southern Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans League Premier Tier.

The squad list this campaign includes 9 ex- Premier League footballers, with a collective nearly 1,800 top-flight games.

This elite roster also boasts 222 Premier League goals and 325 global appearances.

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

Cisse made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home-field game against reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six goals in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

The squad for this season also includes former pros such as England and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former Premier League footballers have won 15 major honors and transferred for combined transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Well-Known Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Republic of Ireland caps, netting 4 scores

Stephen Ireland started playing for the side in pre-season this summer through close friend and present team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited additional ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek small-sided game, to join in.

Ex- Senegal forward Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve scores in 65 Premier League games for the Toffees and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut versus Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"A friend Stephen said 'come and have a game, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

"Then he informed me we were facing a team from the city and the shock I had when I saw them wearing Blue kits - I say this is wrong for me!

"If you still enjoy football and you know you can still do it, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to do?

"The people who turn up and see are pleased and to make a moment if they watch us competing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can play, with organisation of course."

Such is the strength in depth at the club, Niasse had his debut at full-back.

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

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa is playing for the team

Dreamlike' Experience

Along with Cisse's 6 scores on his first game, Ireland has netted eight in three appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit five on his debut appearance and Lescott, a defender by trade, notched a triple in one game up front.

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

One opponent, 38, who plays on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against ex- Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

He has played at two global tournaments for his country, in addition to playing in more than 200 top-flight matches.

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

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

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

"Our side competed well for a good twenty mins but then we had a player sent off and it was hard.

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

"The opponents were all friendly, shaking our hands after the game - it was like facing a group of regular guys.

"Now we are eager for the return fixture."

We Will Still Win the Title'

The manager coaches the Collegiate veterans team, who won the Premier Tier title last season, along with his co-manager.

"We scored 1-0 up and had a

Jennifer Boyd
Jennifer Boyd

A seasoned gambling analyst with over a decade of experience in reviewing online casinos and providing strategic betting advice for UK players.