🔗 Share this article

What do you enhance a stellar experienced squad who have won back-to-back titles, featuring a league-cup double boasting 30 victories from thirty-two games?

Bring in a collection of ex- pro players who have performed at the elite tier of club and global soccer as you aim for further honors.

One Greater Manchester side boasts an non-professional veterans team with 9 ex- top-flight players in their current lineup.

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

The team Veterans Over 35s are situated in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Premier Division.

The roster this campaign boasts nine former top-flight players, with a collective nearly 1,800 Premier League matches.

This high-profile roster also includes over 220 Premier League scores and over 320 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who netted thirty-seven scores in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for nine million pounds from German league club Freiburg in 2012.

He made his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their most recent home match versus reigning title holders their rivals and netted every one of the six goals in a 6-2 victory - featuring a half-hour opening period triple.

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

Collectively, the former Premier League footballers have secured fifteen significant honors and transferred for combined transfer fees of about £123 million.

Well-Known Names and International Stars

Ireland began playing for the side in pre-season this season through close friend and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland midfielder then asked other former professionals, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side match, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese forward Niasse, who scored 12 scores in sixty-five top-flight matches for the Toffees and still attends their home games, also made his first appearance against the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and use an Everton warm-up gear as their uniform.

"A mate Stephen said 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," commented Niasse.

"Then he told me we were facing a side from Liverpool and the shock I had when I saw them wearing Everton kits - I thought this is strange for me!

"If you still enjoy football and you know you can still do it, anywhere you can play, what are you going to do?

"Those people who come and watch are happy and to give a moment if they see us playing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us getting a place we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, he made his first game at full-back.

"That's a little unusual but then, I enjoy running and just move inside - I'm not staying back 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 enjoyable."

'Surreal Experience

Along with Cisse's 6 scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in three games for the side, while Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a hat-trick in one game up front.

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

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against former Wigan defender Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two global tournaments for his country, in as well as featuring in over 200 Premier League games.

"It was spreading like wildfire they had these ex-Premier League stars," said the player.

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

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

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

"We literally haven't ceased chatting about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the way home.

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

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

We Will Still Win the League'

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

"Our team scored one-nil up and had a