Discover this Sunday League Squad Boasting Nearly Two Thousand English Top Division Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for the team Veterans in a 6-2 victory against their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you boost a outstanding veteran squad who have claimed consecutive championships, including a league-cup double boasting thirty wins from 32 matches?

Bring in a collection of ex- professionals who have competed at the top tier of club and global soccer as you target additional honors.

A Manchester team fields an amateur veterans team with 9 former Premier League players in their current squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are situated in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire Vets Division Top Tier.

Their lineup this campaign includes 9 ex- top-flight footballers, with a total 1,801 top-flight games.

The elite roster also contains 222 top division scores and over 320 international caps.

The squad feature Papiss Cisse, who netted thirty-seven goals in 117 games for Newcastle United after moving to them for nine million pounds from German league club SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home-field match versus reigning champions their rivals and netted every one of the six goals in a six-two win - including a 32-minute first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this season also includes former professionals such as English and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- Premier League players have secured fifteen significant trophies and moved for combined transfer fees of around £123 million.

Household Names and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring 4 scores

Ireland began playing for the side in pre-season this season through good mate and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then asked other former professionals, who all compete in a weekly nine-a-side match, to join in.

Former Senegalese striker Niasse, who netted twelve goals in 65 top-flight games for the Toffees and still attends their home games, also had his debut against Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and use an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse featured for Everton from 2016 and 2020

"A mate Stephen said 'come and have a game, it's enjoyable'," commented Niasse.

"Then he informed me we were facing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Everton shirts - I thought this is strange for me!

"When you still love football and you know you can still play, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"Those fans who come and watch are happy and to give a moment if they watch us playing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the joy of us getting a place we can play, with organisation of course."

Such is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, he had his debut at defender.

"It's a little different but then, I enjoy running and just move forward - I'm not staying back that much," he added.

"I warn my centre-back 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to continue attacking.

"That movement is what I'm after. It's good fun."

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa is playing for the team

'Surreal Feeling

In addition to Cisse's 6 scores on debut, Ireland has scored 8 in three games for the side, while George Boyd hit five on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, scored a triple in one game as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Tier with 3 victories from 3 and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against ex- Latics full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in addition to featuring in more than two hundred top-flight games.

"It was spreading like wildfire they had these ex-Premier League stars," said the player.

"I felt I was a bit starstruck playing against Figueroa to be honest.

"Also Emile [Heskey] came on and he's got over 60 England appearances.

"We held our own for a good 20 mins but then we had a man sent off and it was hard.

"Our group literally haven't ceased chatting about it - I was calling my mother and sibling on the journey home.

"The opponents were all friendly, shaking our hands after the game - it was like playing a group of normal guys.

"Now we can't wait for the return match."

We Will Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate veterans team, who secured the Top Division title last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"We scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Amy Fisher
Amy Fisher

A London-based writer and cultural critic with a passion for exploring urban lifestyles and creative trends across the UK.