Discover this Weekend League Squad With Over 1,800 Top-Flight Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Vets in a 6-2 win versus their opponents on 19 October (left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you improve a outstanding veteran squad that have secured back-to-back championships, featuring a double triumph with thirty wins from 32 matches?

Bring in a collection of former professionals that have played at the top level of club and international football as you aim for additional honors.

One Manchester team boasts an amateur veterans team with 9 ex- Premier League players in their present lineup.

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

The team Veterans Over 35s are situated in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire Veterans Division Top Tier.

The lineup this season includes 9 former top-flight players, with a combined 1,801 Premier League games.

The high-profile squad also boasts 222 Premier League goals and 325 international caps.

They feature one forward, who notched thirty-seven goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for £9m from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

He had his debut for the team in their last home-field match versus reigning champions their rivals and scored every one of the six goals in a 6-2 win - featuring a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's team for this season also features former professionals such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the ex- Premier League players have won 15 big trophies and transferred for combined transfer fees of around £123 million.

Household Names and International Players

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

Ireland began turning out for the team during preseason this summer through close mate and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland midfielder then asked additional ex-pros, who all compete in a weekly small-sided match, to join in.

Former Senegalese forward Niasse, who netted twelve goals in sixty-five Premier League games for Everton and even now goes to their home games, also made his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and use an Blue training kit as their strip.

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

"My mate Stephen said 'join and play, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

"After that he told me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Everton shirts - I say this is strange for me!

"When you still love football and you know you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to choose?

"Those people who turn up and watch are pleased and to give a moment if they watch us playing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us getting a place we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, he had his debut at defender.

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

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

"The movement is what I'm seeking. It's enjoyable."

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

Dreamlike' Feeling

Along with the forward's six goals on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in three games for the side, while Boyd hit 5 on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, scored a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

The team are top of the Premier Division with 3 victories from three and a goal difference of +19.

Paul Barrow, 38, who plays on the wing for Collegiate OB, faced former Latics full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in addition to featuring in more than 200 Premier League games.

"It was going round like a rumor they had these former top-flight stars," remarked Barrow.

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

"Even Emile [Heskey] got on and he's got over 60 England appearances.

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

"We literally have not ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and sibling on the journey home.

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

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

'We'll Still Win the Title'

The manager coaches the opposition vets side, who secured the Premier Division title the previous campaign, along with his co-manager.

"Our team went 1-0 up and had a

Anthony Hernandez
Anthony Hernandez

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casinos, specializing in slot game mechanics and player strategies.