🔗 Share this article

What can you improve a outstanding veteran squad who have secured back-to-back titles, including a double triumph boasting thirty victories from thirty-two matches?

Sign a group of ex- pro players that have competed at the highest tier of club and international soccer as you target more honors.

A Greater Manchester side fields an amateur veterans squad with nine ex- top-flight players in their current squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Caps

The team Vets Over 35s are situated in south the city and play in the Cheshire Vets Division Top Division.

The roster this campaign boasts 9 former top-flight players, with a total nearly 1,800 top-flight matches.

This high-profile squad also boasts over 220 Premier League goals and 325 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who netted thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after joining them for £9m from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their most recent home-field game versus reigning title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six scores in a six-two victory - featuring a 32-minute opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's roster for this season also includes former pros such as England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight players have secured 15 major trophies and moved for total transfer sums of about £123 million.

Household Names and International Stars

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the team during pre-season this season through good mate and present Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the former Irish player then asked other ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side match, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese forward Niasse, who scored twelve scores in 65 Premier League games for Everton and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and use an Blue training kit as their uniform.

"My mate Stephen Ireland told me 'join and play, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

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

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

"The spectators who come and see are happy and to give someone's moment if they see us competing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

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

"It's a bit unusual but then, I enjoy running and just move forward - I'm not defending that much," he said.

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

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

'Surreal Experience

In addition to the forward's 6 scores on debut, Ireland has netted 8 in three appearances for the side, while George Boyd hit five on his debut match and Lescott, a defender by position, scored a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Tier with three wins from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

One opponent, 38, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against former Latics defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young son who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at 2 World Cups for his country, in as well as playing in over 200 Premier League games.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had these ex-Premier League stars," remarked Barrow.

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

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

"Our side competed well for a solid twenty mins but then we had a man sent off and it was hard.

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

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

"Now we are eager for the return fixture."

'We'll Still Win the Title'

The manager coaches the Collegiate veterans side, who secured the Top Division title last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team scored one-nil ahead and had a