Meet this Weekend Division Team Boasting 1,800 Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for Wythenshawe Vets in a 6-2 win versus Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you boost a outstanding veteran side that have secured consecutive titles, including a league-cup double with thirty wins from 32 games?

Bring in a collection of former professionals that have played at the elite level of club and global soccer as you aim for more trophies.

A Greater Manchester club has an amateur veterans squad with 9 former Premier League footballers in their current squad.

222 Premier League Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are situated in southern the city and compete in the Cheshire Veterans Division Top Tier.

Their squad list this campaign boasts 9 former Premier League footballers, with a combined over 1,800 top-flight matches.

This elite team also boasts over 220 Premier League scores and 325 international caps.

The squad feature one forward, who netted 37 scores in over 100 appearances for his former club after moving to them for £9m from German league side Freiburg in 2012.

He made his first appearance for the team in their last home-field game against reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored every one of the six scores in a 6-2 victory - including a half-hour opening period hat-trick.

The roster for this campaign also features ex- professionals such as England and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former top-flight players have claimed fifteen major honors and transferred for total transfer sums of around £123 million.

Well-Known Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He won six Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring four scores

Ireland began turning out for the side during pre-season this season through good mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland midfielder then asked other ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side game, to join in.

Ex- Senegal striker Niasse, who netted 12 goals in sixty-five top-flight matches for the Toffees and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut against Collegiate OB - who are based in Liverpool and use an Everton training kit as their strip.

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

"A friend Stephen Ireland told me 'join and have a game, it's good fun'," commented Niasse.

"Then he told me we were playing a team from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Blue kits - I say this is strange for me!

"If you still enjoy the game and you feel you can still do it, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"The fans who turn up and watch are pleased and to give a day if they watch us playing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the pleasure of us getting a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the bench strength at the club, Niasse made his debut at full-back.

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

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

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

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

Dreamlike' Experience

In addition to the forward's six goals on his first game, Ireland has scored eight in 3 appearances for the side, while George Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a hat-trick in one game up front.

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

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

Figueroa has appeared at two World Cups for Honduras, in addition to featuring in more than 200 top-flight matches.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had all these ex-Premier League stars," remarked Barrow.

"I think I was a little starstruck playing against him to be honest.

"Also Heskey came on and he's got 60-odd England appearances.

"Our side held our own for a good twenty mins but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

"We really haven't stopped chatting about it - I was phoning my mother and sibling on the way home.

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

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

'We'll Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate veterans team, who secured the Premier Tier championship the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"We went 1-0 ahead and had a

Ashley Simmons
Ashley Simmons

Certified personal trainer and nutritionist with over 10 years of experience, passionate about helping others transform their lives through fitness.

September 2025 Blog Roll

Popular Post