After back-to-back promotions and a cup double, Wythenshawe AFC were not satisfied. Instead, they signed a host of ex-professional players to chase more silverware.
Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s, a football club rooted in the heart of South Manchester, are making waves in the Cheshire Vets League Premier Division. This isn’t your typical veterans’ side — their squad reads like a roll call of former top-flight stars. Between them, the team’s nine ex-Premier League players boast an astonishing 1,801 appearances at the highest level of English football. Collectively, they’ve found the net 222 times in the Premier League and have represented their countries on 325 occasions. Wythenshawe are top of the Premier Division with three wins from three and a goal difference of +19.
Despite the array of former professionals, every player must pay £15 subs!
George Boyd has amassed 101 Premier League appearances and scored nine goals in the top division in his career. The winger is best known for a stellar six year spell at Peterborough between 2007-2013, amassing over 250 appearances, including breaking the record for the most consecutive appearances for Posh.
A huge good luck to George Boyd who has today announced his retirement. 🙌
563 matches, 99 goals, 77 assists. ⚽️
Over 100 appearances in each of the Premier League, Championship and League One! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0PiB6HoF6V
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) October 28, 2021
37 goals in 117 Premier League games marks a prolific return for Newcastle fan favourite Papiss Cisse. He has also had extremely strong spells across Europe in countries such as Germany, France and Turkey. However, he will forever be remembered for this famous brace against Chelsea.
Papiss Cisse. Stamford Bridge. 2012.
You know the rest... #OnThisDay @CissePapiss pic.twitter.com/Nt72Ro6b8s
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 2, 2019
The man with the most Premier League goals and appearances in this side is Emile Heskey who has 516 appearances and 110 goals for Leicester, Liverpool, Wigan, Birmingham and Aston Villa. He was also capped 62 times by England.
With 246 Premier League appearances, Stephen Ireland is rightly a Manchester City legend. A player with so much talent, he only made six appearances for his country admist controversy off the pitch with managers. He can now be found playing Ballers League for Deportrio alongside fellow Wythenshawe player Oumar Niasse.
Deportrio aren’t playing around tonight 😮💨
Meeks and Studge have pulled in TWO ex-Premier League stars for the season opener 💥 pic.twitter.com/MkLfGCe8St
— Baller League (@BallerLeagueUK) October 27, 2025
Nedum Onuoha made over 350 appearances in his career for Manchester City, Sunderland, QPR and Real Salt Lake. The 38-year-old is also currently a pundit.
A product of the Manchester United youth academy, Danny Drinkwater was a part of the famous Leicester City Premier League triumph before a disappointing spell at Chelsea after signing for £35 million. He also managed three England caps before retiring in 2022.
🔵👋🏻 Danny Drinkwater has announced his retirement from football — he’s 33.
🏆 Premier League winner @ Leicester.
🏆 FA Cup winner @ Chelsea. pic.twitter.com/vkrOmmFSv7— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 30, 2023
Maynor Figueroa
A Wigan legend who made 179 Premier League appearances and won the FA Cup in 2013, Figueroa is a true 'Barclaysman'.
The left back has made a record 181 caps for Honduras, making him a national hero. He is also the scorer of one of the best Premier League goals of all time.
A decade ago...
in the 2009-10 season Maynor Figueroa scored this amazing free-kick which was named goal of the season #DecadeChallengepic.twitter.com/KDomJz2ORO
— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) December 22, 2019
Two time Premier League, one time EFL Cup and FA Cup winner Joleon Lescott maybe most remembered for his torrid spell as Aston Villa were relegated from the Premier League, but Manchester City and Everton fans will remember the commanding centre back fondly. He is now an aspiring DJ.
Micah Richards in the thick of it for Joleon Lescott’s DJ set at Creamfields😭😭😭
What a bloke👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/CwKwjQLMx7
— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) August 25, 2025
Lining alongside Stephen Ireland in ballers league, Oumar Niasse struggled in the Premier League, despite arriving with big expectations after a prolific spell in Russia. The 35-year-old has also been capped nine times by Senegal.
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