A former Manchester United captain has been the latest former Premier League player to link up with the star-studded non-league side Wythenshawe FC Vets
15:40, 06 Apr 2026
Darren Fletcher, Danny Welbeck, Antonio Valencia and Michael Keane training under Louis van Gaal
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Antonio Valencia has turned out for Wythenshawe FC Vets(Image: John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
A former Manchester United captain has become the latest ex-Premier League player to join a star-studded non-league side.
Antonio Valencia is back playing football on English shores after linking up with Wythenshawe FC Vets - a squad full of the who's who of Premier League players from the 2000s. The club, based in South Manchester, has an eye-watering nine former Premier League players.
Double Premier League winner and Manchester City legend Joleon Lescott is the most capped of the lot - and he's joined by a fellow ex-England team-mate, former Liverpool 2001 treble-trophy winning Emile Heskey, along with other City fan favourites, Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha.
Wythenshawe FC Vets
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Wythenshawe FC Vets boast a number of former Premier League stars
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Former Newcastle United hotshot Pappis Cisse also features, plus Premier League winner and Leicester City icon Danny Drinkwater, Wigan Athletic's FA Cup winning legend Maynor Figueroa, George Boyd who once helped Hull win promotion to the Premier League, and Oumar Niasse, formerly of Everton.
Valencia is the latest in a long line of former Prem heroes to lace up his boots again... The club posted on Instagram: "We're proud to welcome Premier League winner, Antonio Valencia to Wythenshawe Vets.
"A Manchester United legend. Title winner. Now wearing our badge. Welcome to the club, Antonio!"
Antonio Valencia during a Manchester United Foundation charity match at Old Trafford
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Antonio Valencia is a former club captain(Image: James Gill - Danehouse, Getty Images)
It was Ireland that started the trend, when he turned out for the team over the summer through close friend and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton. Ireland would go onto invite the other ex-pros, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side league, to join in.
In a previous interview with Sky Sports, Ireland said: "We're all retired and it's nice to get together to continue to play football, keep fit and also from the mental health side of things.
"A lot of lads can feel a bit stranded and alone when they come out of football. We all live in the same area so help each other."
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And it has moved out of the footballing bubble with Usain Bolt issuing a come-and-get-me-plea to the squad.
When asked by talkSPORT if he would join the club, Bolt responded: "Listen, I'm ready. I'm ready. If I get into some shape, I'm ready to go."