Discover the Sunday Division Club Boasting Over 1,800 Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for Wythenshawe Veterans during a six-two victory against their opponents on 19 October (left to right) - one player, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you improve a stellar veteran side that have claimed back-to-back titles, featuring a double triumph with thirty victories from thirty-two games?

Bring in a group of ex- professionals that have competed at the top level of club and global soccer as you aim for further silverware.

A Manchester side has an amateur vets squad with nine ex- top-flight footballers in their present squad.

222 Premier League Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are situated in south the city and compete in the Cheshire Vets League Top Tier.

The lineup this campaign features nine ex- top-flight footballers, with a total nearly 1,800 elite matches.

This elite team also includes 222 Premier League goals and over 320 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who scored thirty-seven scores in 117 games for his former club after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga club Freiburg in January 2012.

He had his debut for the team in their most recent home game against defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six scores in a six-two victory - including a half-hour first-half triple.

The squad for this campaign also includes former pros such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the ex- top-flight players have secured fifteen significant honors and moved for total transfer sums of about £123m.

Famous Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He won six Irish caps, netting 4 scores

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the side in pre-season this season through good friend and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Irish midfielder then asked additional ex-pros, who all play in a midweek small-sided match, to participate.

Former Senegal striker Niasse, who scored 12 goals in sixty-five top-flight games for the Toffees and even now attends their home games, also had his debut against the opposition - who are located in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their strip.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse played for Everton between 2016 and 2020

"My mate Stephen told me 'join and have a game, it's good fun'," commented the striker.

"Then he told me we were facing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I noticed them sporting Blue kits - I say this is strange for me!

"If you still enjoy the game and you know you can still do it, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

"The fans who turn up and see are happy and to give someone's moment if they watch us competing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

So great is the bench strength at the club, he had his first game at full-back.

"It's a little different but then, I love running and just go inside - I'm not defending that much," he said.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

Dreamlike' Experience

In addition to the forward's 6 scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in 3 games for the side, while George Boyd hit 5 on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, notched a triple in one game as a striker.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Division with 3 wins from three and a GD of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against former Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

He has appeared at two World Cups for Honduras, in as well as playing in over 200 top-flight matches.

"It was going round like a rumor they had all these former top-flight players," remarked the player.

"I think I was a little starstruck playing against him to be honest.

"Even Heskey came on and he's got over 60 England caps.

"We competed well for a solid 20 mins but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

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

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

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

'We'll Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate vets side, who secured the Premier Tier title the previous campaign, together with his co-manager.

"We went 1-0 ahead and had a

Henry Martinez
Henry Martinez

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