Meet the Weekend Division Team With Over 1,800 Premier League Games

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

How do you improve a excellent experienced squad that have claimed back-to-back titles, featuring a league-cup double boasting 30 victories from 32 matches?

Recruit a collection of former pro players who have played at the highest tier of club and international soccer as you pursue further honors.

A Manchester club fields an amateur veterans squad with 9 former top-flight players in their current roster.

222 Top Division Goals, 325 International Caps

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

The roster this season features nine former Premier League footballers, with a total 1,801 Premier League games.

The elite team also includes over 220 Premier League goals and 325 global appearances.

The squad feature one forward, who netted 37 goals in 117 games for Newcastle United after joining them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home match versus defending champions their rivals and scored all six scores in a 6-2 victory - including a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

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

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

Famous Figures and Global Players

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

Stephen Ireland began playing for the side during pre-season this summer through good mate and present team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish midfielder then asked additional ex-pros, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side game, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who scored 12 goals in 65 Premier League games for the Toffees and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut against Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and use an Everton warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"My mate Stephen told me 'come and have a game, it's a laugh'," said Niasse.

"After that he informed me we were facing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Blue shirts - I say this is wrong for me!

"If you still enjoy football and you know you can still do it, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

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

So great is the strength in depth at the club, he had his first game at defender.

"That's a little unusual but then, I love running and just go forward - I'm not defending that much," he added.

"I warn my centre-back 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to keep attacking.

"The running is what I'm looking for. It's enjoyable."

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

Unreal Scenario

Along with the forward's six scores on his first game, Ireland has netted 8 in 3 appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit 5 on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, notched a triple in one match up front.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Top Tier with three wins from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for the opposition, faced ex- Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at 2 global tournaments for his country, in as well as featuring in more than 200 Premier League games.

"The news was spreading like wildfire they had these ex-Premier League players," remarked Barrow.

"I think I was a bit starstruck facing him to be honest.

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

"Our side held our own for a solid 20 minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

"Our group literally have not ceased talking about it - I was phoning my mother and brother on the way home.

"They were all dead sound, shaking our hands after the game - it was like facing a group of regular guys.

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

We Will Still Win the League'

The manager manages the opposition vets side, who won the Premier Tier title the previous campaign, along with his co-manager.

"We went 1-0 up and had a

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Ryan Johnson

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