Introduce this Sunday Division Club With 1,800 Top-Flight Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for Wythenshawe Vets in a 6-2 triumph against their opponents on October 19th (left to right) - one player, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you boost a outstanding veteran side who have won back-to-back titles, including a league-cup double with 30 wins from 32 games?

Recruit a raft of former pro players who have played at the highest level of club football and international soccer as you pursue additional silverware.

A Greater Manchester club fields an non-professional vets squad with nine former top-flight footballers in their present lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are located in southern the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans League Top Division.

Their lineup this season features 9 former Premier League players, with a collective nearly 1,800 top-flight matches.

This high-profile team also includes over 220 top division scores and over 320 global caps.

They include one forward, who notched 37 goals in over 100 games for his former club after moving to them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in 2012.

He had his debut for the team in their most recent home game against reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six goals in a 6-2 win - featuring a half-hour opening period hat-trick.

The squad for this campaign also includes ex- professionals such as England and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the former Premier League footballers have claimed 15 big trophies and transferred for combined transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Well-Known Figures and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Irish caps, scoring four scores

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the team during pre-season this summer through close friend and present team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then asked other ex-pros, who all play in a midweek small-sided game, to participate.

Former Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who netted twelve scores in 65 top-flight matches for the Toffees and even now goes to their home games, also made his debut versus Collegiate OB - who are based in Liverpool and use an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"A mate Stephen told me 'join and have a game, it's a laugh'," commented the striker.

"After that he informed me we were facing a team from Liverpool and the shock I had when I saw them wearing Blue shirts - I thought this is strange for me!

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

"Those spectators who turn up and watch are happy and to make a moment if they watch us playing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us having somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

Such is the bench strength at the club, he made his first game at defender.

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

"I tell my defender 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to keep attacking.

"That 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

Dreamlike' Feeling

In addition to the forward's 6 goals on his first game, Ireland has scored eight in three games for the side, while Boyd hit five on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a hat-trick in one game up front.

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

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for the opposition, came up against former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his nine-year-old boy who Emile Heskey was.

He has appeared at 2 World Cups for his country, in addition to featuring in over 200 Premier League games.

"It was going round like a rumor they had all these ex-Premier League players," said the player.

"I think I was a bit starstruck playing against Figueroa to be honest.

"Even Heskey came on and he's got 60-odd English appearances.

"We held our own for a good 20 mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was tough.

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

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

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

'We'll Still Take the Title'

The manager manages the opposition veterans team, who secured the Premier Tier title the previous campaign, along with his co-manager.

"We went 1-0 ahead and had a

Mr. Christopher Green
Mr. Christopher Green

A digital strategist with over a decade of experience in helping startups and SMEs scale through innovative online solutions.