Meet this Weekend Division Team Boasting Nearly Two Thousand Top-Flight Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Veterans in a 6-2 victory versus Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you boost a outstanding veteran squad who have won back-to-back titles, including a double triumph with thirty wins from 32 matches?

Bring in a group of ex- professionals that have performed at the top level of club and international football as you pursue further trophies.

One Greater Manchester team fields an non-professional veterans team with nine ex- top-flight footballers in their present squad.

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

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are located in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Premier Division.

The lineup this campaign features nine ex- top-flight footballers, with a total 1,801 top-flight appearances.

This elite squad also contains over 220 Premier League goals and over 320 global appearances.

They include Papiss Cisse, who notched thirty-seven goals in 117 games for his former club after joining them for £9m from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his first appearance for the team in their last home game versus reigning title holders their rivals and netted every one of the six goals in a six-two win - featuring a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

The team for this season also features former pros such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League footballers have secured fifteen big trophies and moved for total transfer sums of about £123m.

Household Figures and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned six Republic of Ireland appearances, netting 4 scores

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the side in preseason this summer through good mate and current team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then asked other former professionals, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side match, to join in.

Former Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse, who scored 12 scores in 65 top-flight games for Everton and even now attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut versus the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and use an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"My friend Stephen Ireland told me 'join and have a game, it's good fun'," said Niasse.

"Then he informed me we were facing a side from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Blue shirts - I say this is strange for me!

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

"Those fans who come and watch are pleased and to give someone's moment if they watch us playing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the joy of us having somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

Such is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, he had his debut at full-back.

"It's a bit unusual but then, I enjoy sprinting and just move inside - I'm not staying back that much," he added.

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

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

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

Unreal Experience

Along with the forward's 6 scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored 8 in three appearances for the side, while Boyd scored 5 on his debut match and Lescott, a defender by trade, notched a triple in one match up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Premier Tier with three victories from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, 38, who plays on the wing for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Latics full-back Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain 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 matches.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had all these former top-flight stars," said the player.

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

"Also Emile [Heskey] came on and he's has over 60 England appearances.

"Our side competed well for a solid 20 minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was hard.

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

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

"Now we are eager for the return fixture."

'We'll Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition veterans side, who won the Premier Tier championship last season, along with his co-manager.

"We scored one-nil up and had a

Jeff Ellis
Jeff Ellis

Experienced construction consultant with a passion for sustainable building practices and real estate innovation.