Sunday League matchgoers at Wythenshawe FC Vets have been left shocked as a bunch of former Premier League stars, together with Joleon Lescott, have been turning out for the ninth-tier facet.
Lescott, the previous Manchester Metropolis and England defender, just lately scored a hat-trick for the crew competing within the Cheshire Veterans Soccer League – eight years after hanging up his boots.
They are saying age is only a quantity, and Lescott, alongside together with his ex-Metropolis teammates Stephen Eire and Nedum Onuoha, in addition to former Burnley midfielder George Boyd, have been proving simply that.
Wythenshawe FC Vets have been racking up their aim distinction to cement their place on the high of the league in current video games, at present sitting 9 factors and 19 targets forward of second-placed South Liverpool, who’ve six factors and a aim distinction of three.
This surge has come because the arrival of the ex-professionals, who collectively boast 822 Premier League appearances, to the over-35 facet.
Wythenshawe just lately thrashed Radcliffe FC Outdated Boys 10-1 in a recreation that noticed Boyd discover the again of the web 5 instances, Eire 4 and Lescott – who has been reborn as a striker – additionally getting in on the act.
An image of the Wythenshawe FC Vets bench confirmed Emile Heskey (far proper), Maynor Figueroa (second from proper), Papiss Cisse (second from left) and Oumar Niasse (far left)
Stephen Eire, Cisse and Joleon Lescott throughout their Premier League enjoying days
Lescott – who scored a hat-trick for Wythenshawe FC Vets this season – was most just lately named as a part of Lee Carsley’s interim backroom crew with the England senior crew
In one other 7-1 win over AFC Monton, Eire bagged one other 4, whereas Lescott scored one other hat-trick.
Lots of the gamers at present enjoying for Wythenshawe FC Vets have held teaching and punditry roles since their enjoying days.
Onuoha works for Metropolis as a group ambassador, whereas Lescott was most just lately named as a part of Lee Carsley’s interim backroom crew with the England senior crew following Gareth Southgate’s departure the earlier month.
Lescott, who appeared 26 instances for England, just lately mentioned his heroics with Wythenshawe FC on the Within the Mixer podcast, including that he’s having fun with ‘having the ability to run round’.
Lescott mentioned: ‘Over 35s, I’m a striker, 10k I did yesterday (within the recreation).
‘Two poachers targets to be honest, I recognised when the hazard was and the opposite one, I pressured the error.
‘For the extent, I can press fairly intensely, the defender went to cross again, hit it quick and I went across the goalie.’
Legendary sports activities commentator Martin Tyler added: ‘That is an unique, that is one thing that ought to be making headline information: “Joleon Lescott hat-trick”.’
Eire, Boyd and Lescott have a shocking 17 targets between them within the division, putting all three among the many high scorers – with Eire topping the charts with eight targets in two video games.
Lots of the gamers enjoying for Wythenshawe FC Vets have held teaching and punditry roles since their enjoying days, whereas Onuoha (left) works for Man Metropolis as an envoy
The glitz and glamour of post-footballing days has seen the likes of Figueroa on the crimson carpet
Wythenshawe FC even uploaded a video of Eire scoring a shocking, bending free-kick towards AFC Monton a few weeks in the past.
And most just lately, former Newcastle star Papis Cisse netted all six in Wythenshawe’s 6-2 defeat of Collegiate Outdated Boys.
Former Chelsea and Leicester star, Danny Drinkwater, is registered with the facet however is but to make an look.
Unsurprisingly, followers have caught on, urging others to observe them play, with one writing on X: ‘Wythenshawe FC Vets. Wow. What a crew and nicely price a watch Sunday mornings.’
One other fan uploaded an image of himself watching Lescott and co pitchside and mentioned: ‘Just a few acquainted faces enjoying for Wythenshawe Vets crew this morning.’
Darron Gibson has additionally turned out for Wythenshawe FC’s senior squad in a 3-1 win over AFC Liverpool in September for his solely look up to now.
The reply to why so many ex-Premier League stars have flocked to Wythensawe FC Vets is partly as a consequence of the truth that so a lot of them nonetheless reside in close by Cheshire’s ‘golden triangle’.
The world – which is lower than 10 miles away from Wythenshawe – is comprised of Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Prestbury and is usually known as the ‘footballer belt’, the place the home costs are among the many highest within the area.
Oumar Niasse, who made 35 appearances for Everton, is one other member of Wythenshawe FC
These are largely pushed by luxurious properties and high-profile residents, with footballers enjoying at Liverpool, Everton and the Manchester golf equipment having fun with the exclusivity of the world.
Previously couple of years most of the UK’s different high-value actual property places – together with most of central London and the Cornish coast, the Cotswolds and North Norfolk – have seen costs fall as a consequence of greater rates of interest and financial and political uncertainty.
However, in keeping with the UK Home Value Index, common sale costs throughout Cheshire’s ‘golden circle’ – which counts Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and Jordan Pickford amongst its residents – elevated by 10.7 per cent prior to now yr.
Foden earlier this yr offered his Prestbury mansion for £3million, transferring to a quieter house within the Cheshire countryside after police have been reportedly known as as a consequence of complaints over a late-night children social gathering.
