Discover the Weekend Division Team Boasting 1,800 Top-Flight Appearances

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

What do you improve a stellar veteran team who have secured consecutive titles, including a double triumph boasting thirty wins from 32 matches?

Bring in a collection of ex- professionals that have played at the elite level of club football and global soccer as you target additional trophies.

One Greater Manchester team boasts an amateur vets squad with nine ex- Premier League players in their current squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are based in south Manchester and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Top Division.

The roster this season boasts 9 ex- Premier League players, with a total 1,801 top-flight matches.

The star-studded squad also contains 222 top division scores and 325 international caps.

They feature Papiss Cisse, who notched 37 goals in over 100 appearances for his former club after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga side Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse had his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their last home match versus reigning title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six goals in a 6-2 win - including a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

The roster for this season also includes former pros such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight players have claimed fifteen big honors and transferred for combined transfer fees of about £123m.

Well-Known Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned six Irish appearances, scoring 4 scores

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the team during preseason this summer through good mate and current team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then asked additional former professionals, who all play in a weekly small-sided game, to join in.

Ex- Senegal forward Niasse, who scored twelve goals in sixty-five top-flight matches for Everton and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also made his first appearance versus the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Everton training kit as their strip.

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

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

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

"If you still enjoy football and you feel you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to choose?

"Those people who come and watch are happy and to make someone's moment if they see us competing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the joy of us getting somewhere we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

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

"That'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 defender 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to continue running.

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa is turning out for Wythenshawe

'Surreal Scenario

Along with the forward's six scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in 3 games for the side, while Boyd hit 5 on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, notched a triple in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Premier Division with 3 wins from three and a goal difference of +19.

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

He has appeared at 2 global tournaments for his country, in as well as playing in over 200 Premier League matches.

"It was spreading like wildfire they had all these former top-flight stars," said Barrow.

"I felt I was a little awestruck facing him to be honest.

"Even Heskey came on and he's has over 60 English appearances.

"Our side held our own for a solid twenty mins but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

"We really haven't ceased chatting about it - I was calling my mother and brother on the journey home.

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

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

'We'll Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate veterans team, who won the Top Tier title the previous campaign, together with his co-manager.

"Our team scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Austin Smith
Austin Smith

A tech writer and digital strategist with over a decade of experience in analyzing online trends and emerging technologies.