Introduce the Weekend Division Squad Boasting 1,800 English Top Division Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Vets during a six-two triumph against Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you enhance a outstanding experienced team that have claimed back-to-back titles, including a double triumph with thirty wins from thirty-two games?

Bring in a raft of former professionals that have played at the elite level of club football and international soccer as you pursue additional trophies.

A Greater Manchester side has an non-professional vets squad with nine former Premier League footballers in their current roster.

222 Premier League Goals, 325 Global Caps

The team Vets Over-35s are based in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Premier Tier.

The lineup this season boasts 9 former top-flight players, with a collective 1,801 Premier League matches.

This high-profile team also contains 222 top division goals and over 320 international caps.

The squad feature one forward, who notched thirty-seven goals in 117 games for Newcastle United after joining them for ÂŁ9m from Bundesliga side Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse had his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home-field game against defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six scores in a 6-2 win - including a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's team for this campaign also includes former pros such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight players have claimed fifteen significant honors and moved for combined transfer fees of approximately ÂŁ123m.

Household Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned 6 Irish appearances, scoring four goals

Ireland started turning out for the team in pre-season this season through close mate and present Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then asked additional ex-pros, who all play in a weekly small-sided match, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese striker Niasse, who scored twelve scores in 65 top-flight matches for the Toffees and even now goes to their home games, also made his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

"My friend Stephen said 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," said the striker.

"Then he told me we were playing 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 feel you can still play, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to do?

"The people who come and watch are happy and to give someone's 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 organisation of course."

Such is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, he had his debut at defender.

"That's a bit different but then, I enjoy sprinting and just go inside - I'm not staying back that much," he added.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

Dreamlike' Feeling

Along with Cisse's six goals on his first game, Ireland has scored eight in 3 games for the side, while George Boyd hit five on his first appearance and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a triple in one game as a striker.

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

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

He has appeared at 2 World Cups for his country, in as well as featuring in over 200 top-flight matches.

"It was going round like a rumor they had all these ex-Premier League players," remarked the player.

"I felt 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 good twenty mins but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

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

"The opponents were all really nice, shaking our hands after the match - it was like playing a group of normal fellas.

"Now we are eager for the second fixture."

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate vets side, who secured the Top Division title the previous campaign, together with his co-manager.

"Our team went one-nil up and had a

Michael Johnston
Michael Johnston

A seasoned financial analyst with over a decade of experience in investment banking and personal finance education.