Meet the Weekend League Squad Boasting 1,800 Premier League Games

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

How can you enhance a stellar veteran squad that have secured consecutive championships, featuring a double triumph boasting 30 victories from thirty-two games?

Recruit a group of former professionals who have performed at the elite level of club and global football as you target further trophies.

A Manchester club fields an non-professional veterans squad with 9 former Premier League players in their current lineup.

222 Top Division Scores, 325 Global Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are located in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets League Top Tier.

Their lineup this campaign features 9 former Premier League players, with a collective over 1,800 Premier League appearances.

This star-studded roster also boasts over 220 top division scores and over 320 international appearances.

The squad include one forward, who scored 37 goals in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from German league side SC Freiburg in 2012.

He had his debut for the team in their last home-field game against reigning champions their rivals and scored every one of the six scores in a 6-2 victory - including a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

The team for this campaign also features ex- professionals such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the former top-flight players have claimed fifteen significant honors and transferred for total transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Famous Names and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned 6 Republic of Ireland appearances, netting 4 scores

Ireland started playing for the side in pre-season this season through good friend and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then asked other former professionals, who all compete in a weekly nine-a-side game, to participate.

Former Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who scored 12 goals in sixty-five top-flight matches for Everton and still goes to their home games, also had his debut versus the opposition - who are based in the city and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"My friend Stephen Ireland said 'join and play, it's good fun'," said the striker.

"Then he told me we were facing a side from Liverpool and the shock I had when I saw them wearing Blue kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

"If you still enjoy football and you know you can still play, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

"The fans who turn up and see are pleased and to make someone's moment if they see us playing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, he made his debut at full-back.

"That's a bit different but then, I love running and just move forward - I'm not defending that much," he said.

"I tell my defender 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to keep running.

"That running is what I'm after. It's enjoyable."

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

'Surreal Scenario

Along with Cisse's six scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has netted eight in three appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored five on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a hat-trick in one match up front.

The team are top of the Premier Division with 3 wins from 3 and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

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

He has appeared at two World Cups for his country, in as well as playing in over 200 Premier League matches.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had all these former top-flight stars," remarked Barrow.

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

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

"We competed well for a good 20 minutes but then we had a man dismissed and it was tough.

"We literally haven't stopped talking about it - I was phoning my mum 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 fellas.

"Now we are eager for the return fixture."

'We'll Still Win the League'

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

"Our team went 1-0 up and had a

Tyler Hughes
Tyler Hughes

A technology strategist with over a decade of experience in digital innovation and business transformation across global markets.