Introduce this Weekend League Team Boasting Nearly Two Thousand Premier League Appearances

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

How do you improve a excellent veteran team who have claimed consecutive titles, including a double triumph with thirty wins from 32 matches?

Bring in a group of former pro players that have performed at the highest tier of club football and international football as you aim for additional honors.

A Manchester team has an amateur veterans team with 9 former top-flight footballers in their active squad.

222 Top Division Scores, 325 Global Caps

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

The squad list this season includes 9 former Premier League footballers, with a collective over 1,800 elite matches.

This high-profile squad also boasts 222 top division scores and 325 international caps.

They feature Papiss Cisse, who notched thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from German league side SC Freiburg in 2012.

He had his first appearance for the team in their most recent home-field game versus defending title holders their rivals and scored every one of the six goals in a 6-2 win - including a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's team for this season also features former pros such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the ex- Premier League footballers have claimed 15 significant trophies and transferred for total transfer fees of about £123m.

Well-Known Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned six Republic of Ireland appearances, netting four goals

Ireland started turning out for the side during pre-season this season through close mate and present team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then asked other ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side game, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who netted twelve goals in sixty-five top-flight games for Everton and even now attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut against the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"My mate Stephen said 'join and play, it's a laugh'," said Niasse.

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

"If you still love the game and you know you can still do it, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

"The spectators who come and see are happy and to give someone's moment if they watch us playing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the joy of us having a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the bench strength at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his first game at defender.

"It's a bit different but then, I love running and just go inside - I'm not defending that much," he added.

"I tell my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to keep running.

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

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

'Surreal Scenario

Along with the forward's six goals on his first game, Ireland has scored 8 in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored 5 on his first appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a hat-trick in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Division with 3 wins from 3 and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for the opposition, faced former Latics defender Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young son who Heskey was.

He has played at two global tournaments for his country, in addition to featuring in over 200 top-flight games.

"It was spreading like wildfire they had all these ex-Premier League stars," remarked Barrow.

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

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

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

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

"They were all friendly, shaking our hands after the match - it was like playing a bunch of regular guys.

"Now we are eager for the second fixture."

We Will Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition vets team, who secured the Top Tier title the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went one-nil ahead and had a

Joshua Holland
Joshua Holland

A seasoned journalist specializing in British politics and social affairs, with over a decade of experience covering Westminster and regional developments.