🔗 Share this article

What do you boost a outstanding experienced side who have claimed back-to-back championships, featuring a league-cup double boasting 30 victories from thirty-two matches?

Bring in a group of former pro players who have played at the top tier of club and international football as you target further trophies.

One Manchester club fields an amateur veterans team with nine former Premier League players in their active lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, 325 Global Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are based in southern Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Top Division.

Their lineup this season includes nine former top-flight players, with a combined nearly 1,800 top-flight games.

The star-studded roster also contains 222 Premier League goals and 325 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who netted 37 scores in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club Freiburg in January 2012.

He had his first appearance for the team in their most recent home game against defending champions their rivals and netted every one of the six scores in a 6-2 win - featuring a half-hour opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this season also features former professionals such as England and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight players have secured fifteen major honors and moved for total transfer sums of about £123m.

Well-Known Names and International Players

Stephen Ireland started playing for the team in pre-season this summer through close mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited other ex-pros, who all compete in a weekly small-sided game, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese forward Niasse, who scored 12 goals in 65 Premier League matches for Everton and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also made his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

"My mate Stephen Ireland told me 'join and have a game, it's good fun'," said the striker.

"Then he told me we were facing a team from Liverpool and the shock I had when I noticed them sporting Blue shirts - I say this is strange for me!

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

"The spectators who turn up and watch are pleased and to give someone's day if they see us competing there and to pose us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us getting a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the squad depth at the club, Niasse made his first game at full-back.

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

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

"The running is what I'm seeking. It's enjoyable."

Dreamlike' Experience

In addition to the forward's six scores on his first game, Ireland has netted 8 in three games for Wythenshawe, while Boyd hit 5 on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, notched a triple in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are top of the Premier Tier with three wins from 3 and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

One opponent, 38, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Latics full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

He has appeared at 2 global tournaments for his country, in addition to playing in more than 200 top-flight games.

"The news was going round like a rumor they had these former top-flight players," said the player.

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

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

"Our side held our own for a good 20 mins but then we had a man dismissed and it was tough.

"Our group literally have not ceased talking about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the journey home.

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

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

We Will Still Take the Title'

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

"Our team went 1-0 ahead and had a