Introduce this Weekend League Team With 1,800 Premier League Matches

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

How do you enhance a excellent experienced squad that have claimed consecutive titles, including a league-cup double with thirty victories from thirty-two games?

Recruit a raft of ex- pro players that have performed at the elite tier of club and international football as you aim for further silverware.

A Manchester side boasts an non-professional veterans squad with nine former Premier League players in their active squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Goals, 325 Global Appearances

The team Vets Over 35s are situated in southern the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets League Premier Division.

Their lineup this season boasts 9 ex- Premier League players, with a collective over 1,800 Premier League matches.

This elite squad also contains over 220 Premier League goals and 325 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who netted 37 goals in 117 games for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from German league side SC Freiburg in 2012.

He had his first appearance for the team in their last home game versus defending champions their rivals and netted every one of the six goals in a 6-2 victory - featuring a half-hour opening period hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's squad for this season also features ex- professionals such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- top-flight players have claimed fifteen big honors and moved for combined transfer fees of about £123m.

Household Figures and Global Stars

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

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the side in preseason this season through close mate and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then invited other former professionals, who all play in a midweek small-sided game, to participate.

Ex- Senegal forward Niasse, who netted twelve goals in sixty-five top-flight games for the Toffees and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut versus Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and use an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

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

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

"After that he told me we were facing a side from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Blue kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

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

"Those fans who turn up and see are happy and to give a moment if they watch us competing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the joy of us having a place we can play, with organisation of course."

So great is the squad depth at the club, Niasse made his debut at defender.

"It's a bit different but then, I love sprinting and just go forward - I'm not defending that much," he added.

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

"The movement is what I'm looking for. It's good fun."

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

Dreamlike' Experience

In addition to Cisse's six goals on his first game, Ireland has netted 8 in 3 games for the side, while Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a triple in one match up front.

The team are top of the Top Division with three victories from three and a goal difference of +19.

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, faced former Latics defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at two global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to playing in more than 200 Premier League matches.

"The news was spreading like wildfire they had all these ex-Premier League players," remarked the player.

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

"Also Heskey came on and he's has over 60 England appearances.

"We held our own for a solid 20 minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was hard.

"We literally haven't ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mother and sibling on the journey home.

"They were all really nice, shaking our hands after the game - it was like facing a bunch of regular fellas.

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

'We'll Still Take the Title'

The manager coaches the opposition veterans side, who won the Top Tier title last season, together with his co-manager.

"We scored one-nil up and had a

Carmen Rivera
Carmen Rivera

Elara Vance is a gaming industry analyst with over a decade of experience, specializing in casino game reviews and player safety guidelines.