Meet the Weekend Division Squad Boasting Over 1,800 Top-Flight Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Vets in a six-two victory against their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you enhance a outstanding veteran squad that have claimed back-to-back championships, including a double triumph with 30 wins from 32 matches?

Bring in a raft of ex- pro players that have competed at the highest tier of club football and global soccer as you pursue further silverware.

One Manchester side boasts an non-professional veterans squad with nine former Premier League footballers in their present squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, 325 Global Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over-35s are located in south the city and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Top Tier.

Their squad list this campaign features 9 former top-flight footballers, with a combined nearly 1,800 elite matches.

This elite squad also boasts over 220 Premier League goals and 325 global caps.

The squad feature one forward, who notched thirty-seven scores in 117 appearances for his former club after moving to them for £9m from Bundesliga side Freiburg in 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home game versus reigning title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted all six scores in a 6-2 win - including a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's roster for this campaign also includes former pros such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League players have secured 15 big trophies and moved for combined transfer sums of around £123m.

Household Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Irish appearances, scoring 4 goals

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the team during preseason this season through close friend and current team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then invited additional former professionals, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side game, to join in.

Former Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who netted twelve scores in sixty-five Premier League matches for Everton and still goes to their home games, also made his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their strip.

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

"My friend Stephen told me 'come and have a game, it's enjoyable'," commented Niasse.

"Then he informed me we were playing a side from the city and the shock I had when I saw them wearing Everton kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

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

"The spectators who come and see are happy and to make someone's day if they see us playing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can play, with organisation of course."

Such is the squad depth at the club, he made his first game at full-back.

"It's a little unusual but then, I enjoy running and just move inside - I'm not defending that much," he added.

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

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

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

Dreamlike' Experience

In addition to the forward's six scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in 3 appearances for the side, while George Boyd hit five on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, scored a triple in one match up front.

The team are top of the Top Division with 3 wins from 3 and a goal difference of +19.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against former Latics full-back Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two World Cups for his country, in addition to featuring in over 200 Premier League matches.

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

"I think I was a bit awestruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

"Also Heskey came on and he's has 60-odd English appearances.

"Our side competed well for a good twenty minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

"Our group really have not ceased chatting about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the way home.

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

"Now we are eager for the return fixture."

'We'll Still Win the Title'

The manager coaches the Collegiate veterans team, who won the Top Tier championship last season, together with his co-manager.

"We went one-nil ahead and had a

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A Venice local with over 10 years of experience in tourism, sharing insights on water transport and hidden gems of the city.

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