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It all started with a picture and caption on social media: “If Carlsberg did benches.” Then came a tweet, naming nine former Premier League players on the books of Wythenshawe FC’s over-35s side: Stephen Ireland, Emile Heskey, Maynor Figueroa, Joleon Lescott, Papiss Cissé, Oumar Niasse, Nedum Onuoha, George Boyd and Danny Drinkwater.
Adding new recruit Jefferson Montero to the list means Wythenshawe’s veterans squad includes 1,867 Premier League appearances, plus 389 international caps and 15 major honours.
It is almost surreal to see six of the group – Ireland, Figueroa, Cissé, Boyd, Drinkwater and Montero – line up at Hollyhedge Park for a Sunday League veterans’ match against South Liverpool, with Drinkwater and Montero making their debuts. This is muck‑and-nettles stuff, yet the sticky November turf is being graced by players who have tasted the very top.
Unsurprisingly, Wythenshawe came into the game in glittering form – and showed no mercy in continuing it. They had already picked up some comfortable victories, winning 6-2, 10-1, 7-1 and 5-2 in the league. Cissé, the former Newcastle striker, scored all six against the Merseyside team Collegiate Old Boys last month, a game that nearly 200 people turned up to watch. There are almost five times that in attendance for their latest match, marvelling as the Ammies’ veterans rack up a 13-0 scoreline. Cissé scored eight goals – all in the second half, after he missed a first-half penalty, with Boyd and Ireland scoring two apiece. The names of the stars are on every fan’s lips.
It all started with the former Manchester City man Ireland, who is close friends with the Wythenshawe player Blake Norton and was eager for a Sunday afternoon kickabout after playing a “low-key” seven-a-side with some fellow former pros on Tuesday nights. Ireland, who exhibited some fine touches in the game and started the scoring with an inventive volley before providing several assists for Cissé, enlisted some high-calibre ringers.
“I came down in pre-season just because I love playing football,” Ireland says. “I love the fitness side of things. I invited some of the others and slowly but surely everyone wants to play.
“It’s competitive and it’s going from strength to strength. I didn’t want it to be something where 15 of us ex-pros came in and took over, I want a good mix with the old vets lads. It’s a nice humbling experience to interact with fans as well. It’s great to give back and the club have been so nice to me. We’re all local as well.”
The club has been blown away by the growth of the story on social media and the response of the community. The chair, Carl Barratt, says: “Positive press is always good but we’ve not had anything like this before. I’ve even had one of my family members in Australia send me a message – that’s how far we’ve reached.”
Barratt is eager to indicate Wythenshawe’s vets were a force to be reckoned with even before the influx of Premier League talent. Last season they won 30 of 32 games under their manager, Kieran Megran, the only defeats coming in two County Cup finals. It was Megran’s drive, and the involvement of Ireland, that really took things to the next level.
“It literally started from a conversation about how we can win these County Cups and suddenly we’ve got all these star players,” Barratt says.
“We love it, honestly,” Ireland says. “It’s meant to be fun and casual, but even now my phone is lighting up with ex-players saying: ‘How do I sign up?’ And the turnout today was amazing.”
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The former Leicester and England midfielder Drinkwater says: “Without sounding daft, there’s just as much enjoyment as playing in the Premier League. You do a token 10-minute warm-up, you’re having a laugh and you have a pint afterwards – it’s as good as it’s going to get. The values are obviously different in professional football, but you can enjoy it just as much. It’s like estate football, which is what you enjoyed as a kid. There’s loads of banter. I was chuckling away on the pitch today.”
For Barratt, it has gone beyond just winning matches and that elusive search for cup glory. He has been connected to Wythenshawe for 24 years and oversees their 80 teams across all age levels – involving nearly 1,000 children. He was Cole Palmer’s first coach when the current Chelsea forward was a youngster at the club. Barratt and many others have put countless hours into the club, so to see hundreds gather on a Sunday morning for a veterans game is special.
“Ultimately, we’re a community‑owned club and this is highlighting what we do in the area. For what Stevie Ireland has done, because he’s been the catalyst to get people involved along with Kieran, it’s been superb.
“Wythenshawe is not the most affluent area but hopefully this can contribute to us getting more players, generating more money and the feelgood factor around the place … you can just sense it.
“The other week I was with our president, John Walker, who’s done a lot for the club, and I’m looking across seeing Emile Heskey wearing a Wythenshawe FC striped shirt, standing under the John Walker Stand. So that’s one of the best memories I’m going to have at the club. It’s a funny old game when you see things like that.”
