Collegiate Old Boys have welcomed the star-studded opposition into the league
Andrew Kirkby, manager of Collegiate Old Boys Over-35s, with Emile Heskey from Wythenshawe AFC Vets Over-35s
Andrew Kirkby, manager of Collegiate Old Boys Over-35s, with former Liverpool player Emile Heskey, who now plays for Wythenshawe AFC Vets Over-35s
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A team of ordinary Scousers ended up mixing with a raft of famous footballers last weekend. Collegiate Old Boys Over-35s from West Derby are the current champions of the Cheshire Vets League Premier Division.
However, they face incredibly strong competition this season from Wythenshawe AFC Vets Over-35s. Unlike Collegiate, their team isn’t made up of ordinary middle-aged men from the area. The south Manchester team has a squad list that boasts nine former Premier League players, with a combined 1,801 top-flight appearances between them.
Players include former Liverpool forward Emile Heskey and ex-Everton players Oumar Niasse and Joleon Lescott. Collectively, the former top-flight players have won 15 major trophies and moved for combined transfer fees of about £123m.
They played Wythenshawe away last Sunday. Andrew Kirkby, 47, is the co-manager of Collegiate Old Boys Over-35s alongside Paul Maguire, 48 and they are both from West Derby. Andrew says last weekend’s match was one his team relished rather than feared.
He told the ECHO: “It was boss to be honest. We knew what we were up against - £133m of transfer money and just under 2,000 Premier League appearances. It was a great day.
“We are in the Cheshire veterans league and won the league last year. I think Wythenshawe were in division one or two. They won their league and the chairman knows Stephen Ireland (ex-Manchester City). He’s brought a couple of his mates in. It is mega.”
Wythenshawe beat Collegiate Old Boys 6-2, with former Newcastle United forward Papiss Cisse scoring all six goals. But Andrew says the result doesn’t show how close the game was for certain periods.
He said: “Although it was 6-2, the score line doesn’t reflect how the game went. We were winning 1-0 and had the chance to make it 2-0 but it was cleared off the line. Then we had a man sent off.
Andrew with Stephen Ireland, who played for Manchester City and Aston Villa during his professional playing career
Andrew with Stephen Ireland, who played for Manchester City and Aston Villa during his professional playing career
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“We played with 10 men for 70 mins. It was a tall ask to get back into the game, but we had a good 15 minute spell later on and had the chance to make it 4-3. If it was 11 v 11, it would have been a close encounter.”
There were no hard feelings off the pitch however. Andrew said: “We had a pint with all the lads after the game.
“I had a chat with Stephen Ireland, he was a really nice fella. Niasse played too. They’re all ex-pros and there’s nowhere else for them to play. This is the only venue they can do it and they’ve jumped at the opportunity.
“They’re now top and three points ahead of us in the league but we’ve got the return match. We’ve got a nice bond with Wythenshawe.”
Collegiate Old Boys Over-35s won the league in 2024-25
Collegiate Old Boys Over-35s won the league in 2024-25
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It marked a major milestone for the Collegiate Old Boys too. The club were formed in 1909, making them one of the oldest teams in Liverpool. They also have a team in the Liverpool Football League.
Andrew says he and Paul worked hard to keep the club going. He said: “We’re a good little club. Now we’ve built the team taking on people from the Premier League
“It’s good for people’s mental health, it keeps people ticking over. The only downside of grassroots football is the costs to keep it going, it’s unreal.
“Not everyone can be there all the time. We’re always looking for a sponsor. I’ve got a normal warehouse job. I do the training on Saturday and manage on Sundays.
“It’s an unreal thing to build that little team to come up against people from the Premier League, people like Niasse and Cisse. They all enjoyed the game. They didn’t realise how good we are.”