Antonio Valencia Teams Up With Premier League Legends at Amateur English Club

Antonio Valencia Teams Up With Premier League Legends at Amateur English Club

The Cheshire Vets League Premier Division may sound like your typical over-35 amateur competition, but Wythenshawe Vets' roster looks more like a throwback to English Premier League glory days.

Antonio Valencia, the 40-year-old Ecuadorian winger who made 339 appearances for Manchester United and captured two Premier League championships during his decade-long stint at Old Trafford, has officially signed with the amateur side. He'll be joining an impressive collection of former top-flight stars already on the books.

The squad features Emile Heskey, Marc Albrighton, Joleon Lescott, Danny Drinkwater, Papiss Cissé, Oumar Niasse, and Stephen Ireland, creating what might be the most decorated veterans team in amateur football history.

A lineup that defies belief

Heskey tops the Premier League appearances chart among the group with an incredible 516 matches across stints with Leicester City, Liverpool, Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic, and Aston Villa. Valencia follows with 325 top-division appearances, accumulated during his time with Manchester United and Wigan. Albrighton brings 310 Premier League games and a championship medal from Leicester City's miracle 2016 title run, while Lescott adds his credentials from successful spells with Everton and Manchester City.

The Cheshire Vets League caters to players 35 years and older, which provides some context for Wythenshawe's dominance — though it doesn't make their results any less remarkable. Through their opening seven fixtures, they've posted a perfect record with an astonishing plus-54 goal differential. That's 54 goals in just seven matches, leaving opposing teams wondering what they've gotten themselves into.

  • Emile Heskey — 516 EPL appearances, 62 England international caps
  • Antonio Valencia — 339 Manchester United appearances, 2 Premier League titles
  • Marc Albrighton — 310 EPL appearances, Leicester City champion 2016
  • Joleon Lescott — Premier League winner with Manchester City
  • Danny Drinkwater — Leicester City's 2016 title-winning midfielder
  • Papiss Cissé & Oumar Niasse — Senegalese strikers with Newcastle and Everton pedigree
  • Stephen Ireland, Maynor Figueroa, Nedum Onuoha, Cameron Jerome, Jefferson Montero

Beyond the headlines

According to BBC Sport, Wythenshawe operates more than 80 teams spanning men's, women's, and youth football programs. Having players of Valencia and Heskey's calibre training alongside under-12 squads and recreational players represents something truly special for a grassroots club — the kind of inspiration that transcends any silverware they might collect.

Valencia hung up his professional boots in 2021. This isn't about staging a professional return. Instead, it's a 40-year-old football legend who wanted to keep playing and found a squad where his elite background fits right in. Based on their undefeated start to the season, opposition teams aren't exactly thrilled about facing this collection of talent week after week.