Discover the Sunday League Team With Over 1,800 English Top Division Games

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

What do you improve a outstanding experienced squad that have won back-to-back titles, featuring a double triumph boasting thirty wins from thirty-two games?

Recruit a collection of former pro players who have competed at the elite level of club football and global football as you target additional honors.

A Greater Manchester side boasts an amateur veterans team with nine former Premier League footballers in their active lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Goals, 325 Global Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are located in southern the city and play in the Cheshire Vets League Premier Tier.

Their roster this season features nine ex- Premier League players, with a combined nearly 1,800 Premier League appearances.

The high-profile squad also contains over 220 Premier League scores and over 320 global caps.

They include Papiss Cisse, who scored thirty-seven scores in 117 games for Newcastle United after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

He had his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their last home-field match against defending champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted all six goals in a 6-2 win - featuring a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's squad for this campaign also includes former pros such as English and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the ex- top-flight players have secured fifteen significant honors and moved for combined transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Well-Known Figures and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring four scores

Ireland began turning out for the team during preseason this summer through close friend and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland midfielder then asked additional ex-pros, who all compete in a weekly small-sided match, to join in.

Former Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who scored 12 scores in sixty-five top-flight games for Everton and even now attends their home games, also had his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"A friend Stephen said 'join and play, it's a laugh'," said the striker.

"Then he informed me we were facing a team from Liverpool and the shock I had when I noticed them sporting Everton kits - I say this is wrong for me!

"When you still enjoy football and you know you can still do it, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

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

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

"It's a bit unusual but then, I love running and just go forward - I'm not staying back that much," he added.

"I tell my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to continue running.

"That running is what I'm seeking. It's good fun."

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

'Surreal Feeling

Along with the forward's six scores on his first game, Ireland has scored eight in 3 games for the side, while Boyd hit 5 on his first appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a triple in one game as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Tier with 3 victories from three and a GD of +19.

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the flank for the opposition, faced former Latics full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young boy who Heskey was.

He has played at 2 World Cups for his country, in as well as playing in over 200 top-flight games.

"The news was spreading like wildfire they had these former top-flight stars," remarked Barrow.

"I think I was a bit starstruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

"Even Heskey came on and he's got 60-odd English appearances.

"Our side competed well for a solid 20 mins but then we had a man dismissed and it was tough.

"We literally have not ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and sibling on the journey home.

"They were all dead sound, shaking our hands after the match - it was like facing a bunch of normal fellas.

"Now we are eager for the return fixture."

We Will Still Win the Title'

The manager coaches the opposition veterans team, who secured the Top Division championship the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"We went 1-0 up and had a

Brandy Roberts
Brandy Roberts

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