Introduce this Weekend Division Squad Boasting 1,800 Top-Flight Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Veterans during a six-two victory versus Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you improve a excellent experienced squad that have secured back-to-back titles, including a double triumph boasting thirty victories from 32 games?

Bring in a collection of former pro players that have performed at the top level of club football and global soccer as you aim for more silverware.

A Manchester team fields an amateur veterans team with nine former Premier League footballers in their present roster.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Scores, 325 International Caps

The team Vets Over 35s are situated in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire Vets Division Premier Tier.

The roster this campaign features nine former top-flight footballers, with a collective nearly 1,800 elite games.

This elite squad also boasts over 220 top division goals and 325 international caps.

The squad include one forward, who netted thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for his former club after joining them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home game versus defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six goals in a 6-2 win - including a half-hour opening period triple.

The team for this campaign also includes ex- pros such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- Premier League footballers have won 15 major honors and moved for total transfer sums of about £123 million.

Household Names and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won 6 Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring four goals

Ireland started playing for the side during preseason this season through good friend and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Irish player then invited other ex-pros, who all play in a weekly small-sided match, to participate.

Former Senegalese striker Niasse, who scored twelve goals in 65 top-flight matches for the Toffees and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut versus the opposition - who are based in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their strip.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
He featured for the club from 2016 and 2020

"My friend Stephen Ireland told me 'come and play, it's a laugh'," said Niasse.

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

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

"The people who come and watch are happy and to give a day if they watch us playing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the joy of us having somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

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

"It's a little unusual but then, I love running and just go forward - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

"I warn my defender 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to continue attacking.

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

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

Unreal Scenario

In addition to Cisse's 6 scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in 3 appearances for Wythenshawe, while Boyd hit five on his debut match and Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

The team are leading of the Top Tier with three victories from three and a GD of +19.

One opponent, 38, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, faced former Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to featuring in over two hundred Premier League matches.

"It was going round like wildfire they had these former top-flight players," said Barrow.

"I felt I was a little starstruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

"Even Emile [Heskey] came on and he's has 60-odd England appearances.

"Our side held our own for a good 20 mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was tough.

"Our group literally have not ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the way home.

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

"Now we are eager for the return match."

We Will Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition veterans side, who won the Premier Tier title last season, along with his co-manager.

"We scored one-nil up and had a

Shane Brown
Shane Brown

A seasoned UK gambling analyst with over a decade of experience in slot game reviews and casino strategy development.