Meet this Weekend League Club Featuring Over 1,800 Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for the team Vets in a 6-2 victory against Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you boost a outstanding veteran squad that have won consecutive championships, featuring a league-cup double with thirty victories from thirty-two games?

Bring in a raft of former professionals who have competed at the top level of club and international football as you pursue further silverware.

One Manchester club has an non-professional vets squad with 9 ex- top-flight players in their active squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Appearances

The team Veterans Over-35s are situated in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets League Premier Division.

Their lineup this season includes 9 former Premier League footballers, with a combined over 1,800 elite appearances.

The high-profile squad also includes 222 top division scores and 325 international appearances.

They include one forward, who netted thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for his former club after joining them for £9m from German league club Freiburg in January 2012.

He had his debut for the team in their last home game versus defending champions their rivals and scored all six scores in a six-two win - including a 32-minute first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's squad for this season also includes former pros such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League players have won 15 big trophies and moved for total transfer fees of approximately £123 million.

Famous Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Republic of Ireland caps, scoring 4 goals

Stephen Ireland started playing for the side in pre-season this summer through good friend and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then asked other former professionals, who all compete in a weekly small-sided match, to participate.

Former Senegalese forward Niasse, who netted twelve scores in 65 top-flight games for the Toffees and still attends their home games, also made his debut against Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and use an Everton training kit as their strip.

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

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

"After that he informed me we were facing a team from the city and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Everton kits - I say this is strange for me!

"If you still love football and you feel you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to do?

"Those fans who turn up and watch are pleased and to make a moment if they see us playing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the joy of us having a place we can play, with structure of course."

Such is the strength in depth at the club, Niasse had his first game at full-back.

"It's a little different but then, I enjoy running and just go forward - I'm not defending that much," he added.

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

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

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

'Surreal Experience

In addition to the forward's 6 goals on debut, Ireland has scored eight in 3 games for the side, while Boyd hit five on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a triple in one game as a striker.

The team are top of the Premier Tier with three victories from 3 and a GD of +19.

One opponent, 38, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at 2 World Cups for his country, in addition to featuring in more than 200 top-flight matches.

"The news was spreading like wildfire they had all these former top-flight stars," remarked the player.

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

"Even Emile [Heskey] came on and he's got 60-odd English caps.

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

"We literally haven't stopped talking about it - I was phoning my mother and sibling on the journey home.

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

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

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate veterans team, who secured the Top Division championship last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team scored one-nil ahead and had a

Wendy Barry
Wendy Barry

A tech enthusiast and business strategist with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and startup consulting.