Introduce the Weekend League Squad Featuring 1,800 Premier League Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for the team Veterans during a 6-2 win versus their opponents on October 19th (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you improve a outstanding veteran team who have claimed consecutive championships, including a league-cup double boasting thirty wins from 32 games?

Recruit a collection of ex- pro players that have played at the elite level of club football and global soccer as you pursue further honors.

A Greater Manchester side has an amateur veterans squad with 9 former Premier League players in their active lineup.

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

The team Vets Over-35s are located in south the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Premier Tier.

The lineup this season features nine ex- top-flight footballers, with a collective 1,801 elite games.

This star-studded team also includes over 220 Premier League scores and 325 global appearances.

They include Papiss Cisse, who netted thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for £9m from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his debut for the team in their most recent home match against defending champions their rivals and netted every one of the six goals in a 6-2 win - including a 32-minute first-half triple.

The team for this season also includes former pros such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League players have secured 15 significant honors and transferred for combined transfer fees of approximately £123 million.

Household Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned six Irish appearances, netting four scores

Ireland began turning out for the team during preseason this season through close friend and current team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then invited additional ex-pros, who all play in a weekly small-sided game, to join in.

Ex- Senegal striker Niasse, who netted 12 scores in sixty-five Premier League games for Everton and even now attends their home games, also made his first appearance versus the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

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

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

"After that he informed me we were facing a team from the city and the shock I had when I saw them sporting Everton shirts - I say this is strange for me!

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

"The fans who come and see are pleased and to make someone's day if they watch us playing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the pleasure of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

So great is the strength in depth at the club, he made his first game at defender.

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

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

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

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

Dreamlike' Experience

Along with Cisse's six goals on debut, Ireland has netted eight in three appearances for the side, while George Boyd hit five on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a triple in one match as a striker.

The team are top of the Premier Tier with three victories from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to playing in over two hundred Premier League games.

"It was going round like wildfire they had all these ex-Premier League players," said Barrow.

"I think I was a bit awestruck playing against him to be honest.

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

"Our side competed well for a solid 20 minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

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

"They were all friendly, shaking our hands after the game - it was like playing a bunch of normal guys.

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

We Will Still Take the Title'

The manager manages the Collegiate veterans team, who won the Top Division championship last season, together with his co-manager.

"Our team went 1-0 ahead and had a

Linda Williams
Linda Williams

A wellness coach and writer passionate about holistic health and personal development, sharing evidence-based strategies for a fulfilling life.