Discover this Sunday League Squad Featuring Nearly Two Thousand Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for the team Veterans in a six-two victory versus their opponents on October 19th (left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you boost a stellar experienced squad that have won back-to-back titles, including a league-cup double boasting thirty victories from thirty-two matches?

Bring in a raft of ex- professionals that have played at the elite tier of club and international soccer as you target further trophies.

A Greater Manchester side has an amateur veterans squad with 9 ex- top-flight players in their active lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Appearances

The team Vets Over-35s are based in south the city and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Top Tier.

Their lineup this campaign includes 9 former Premier League footballers, with a combined nearly 1,800 Premier League matches.

This star-studded roster also contains over 220 Premier League goals and 325 international appearances.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who scored 37 scores in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for £9m from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in 2012.

He had his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their last home-field game versus reigning title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six scores in a 6-2 win - featuring a half-hour first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this campaign also includes ex- professionals such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight footballers have claimed 15 major trophies and transferred for total transfer sums of around £123 million.

Well-Known Names and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned 6 Republic of Ireland caps, scoring four scores

Ireland started playing for the side in preseason this season through good mate and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then invited additional ex-pros, who all play in a midweek small-sided match, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve goals in sixty-five Premier League games for the Toffees and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
He played for the club from 2016 and 2020

"My friend Stephen told me 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

"Then he informed me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Blue kits - I say this is wrong for me!

"If you still love the game and you know you can still play, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

"Those fans who turn up and watch are happy and to give someone's moment if they see us playing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the pleasure of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the bench strength at the club, Niasse had his debut at defender.

"It's a bit unusual but then, I enjoy sprinting and just go inside - I'm not defending that much," he said.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is turning out for Wythenshawe

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to Cisse's six scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in three appearances for the side, while Boyd scored five on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a triple in one match up front.

The team are top of the Top Division with 3 wins from three and a goal difference of +19.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for the opposition, faced former Wigan full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young son who Emile Heskey was.

He has appeared at 2 global tournaments for his country, in addition to featuring in over two hundred top-flight matches.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had all these former top-flight stars," said the player.

"I think I was a little starstruck playing against Figueroa to be honest.

"Also Emile [Heskey] got on and he's has 60-odd English appearances.

"We competed well for a solid 20 minutes but then we had a player dismissed and it was tough.

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

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

"Now we are eager for the second match."

We Will Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate veterans side, who secured the Premier Tier title last season, together with his co-manager.

"We scored 1-0 up and had a

Thomas Reynolds
Thomas Reynolds

Holistic health coach and writer with a passion for natural wellness and mindful living.