A veterans' team, featuring players over 35 such as Papiss Cissé, Joleon Lescott, Stephen Ireland, George Boyd, and Nedum Onuoha, is currently dominating their league with a nine-point lead and an impressive +19 goal difference. The arrival of these former professionals, who collectively boast 822 Premier League appearances, has led to a massive surge in both performance and attention.
Lescott as a Striker and Veteran Hat-Tricks
Former Manchester City and England international defender Joleon Lescott has laced up his boots again, eight years after retiring, and he's doing it in style. This time, he's playing up front, where he's truly shining. He recently scored in a match where Wythenshawe thrashed Radcliffe FC Old Boys 10-1. George Boyd added five goals in the same game, and Stephen Ireland netted four.
Their impressive form continued in the next fixture, with Wythenshawe securing a 7-1 victory over AFC Monton. Ireland once again scored four times, Lescott bagged a hat-trick, and the veterans continued their triumphant run. With Boyd's contributions, this trio has now amassed 17 goals, with Ireland leading the league's scoring charts with eight goals.
Still Having Fun
Lescott, who earned 26 caps for England, admitted on the "In the Mixer" podcast that football still brings him immense joy. "I'm playing as a striker in the over-35s category. Yesterday, I ran ten kilometers. Two of the goals were typical striker's goals. For another, I sensed danger at the right moment, and for the second, I forced the opponent into a mistake," he chuckled, describing his hat-trick.
Legendary commentator Martin Tyler reacted to his performance with his characteristic wit: "This is news that should be on the front page: 'Joleon Lescott scored a hat-trick!'"
Many of the Wythenshawe FC Vets players have remained involved in football after their professional careers. Nedum Onuoha serves as a community ambassador for Manchester City, while Joleon Lescott was part of Lee Carsley's interim coaching staff for the England national team after Gareth Southgate's departure.
Cissé Shines, Drinkwater Awaits Debut
Other familiar faces have also appeared in the squad. Former Newcastle United striker Papiss Cissé recently scored all six goals in a 6-2 victory over Collegiate Old Boys. Danny Drinkwater, a former Premier League champion with Leicester and Chelsea player, is also registered with the team, though he has yet to feature in any matches.
In September, Darron Gibson also made an appearance for the senior team, helping them to a 3-1 win over AFC Liverpool. This remains his sole outing so far.
Football Heaven in the Heart of Cheshire
For many, it remains a mystery how so many former Premier League stars ended up in one amateur team. The answer is simple – most of them live near Cheshire's "golden triangle," formed by the towns of Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, and Prestbury. This area is just 16 kilometers from Wythenshawe and is among the most prestigious addresses in the country.
It's no wonder it's dubbed the "football belt." Players from Liverpool, Everton, and Manchester City reside here, including stars like Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, and Jordan Pickford. Their presence has contributed to a 10.7% increase in property prices in the region over the past year, while other parts of the UK have seen declines.
For instance, Phil Foden sold his local mansion for £3 million (approximately €3.5 million) earlier this year and moved to a quieter rural location in Cheshire. This move reportedly followed police having to attend his home due to a noisy children's party.