Meet the Sunday Division Club Featuring Nearly Two Thousand Premier League Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for Wythenshawe Veterans in a 6-2 triumph versus Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (from left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you enhance a excellent experienced team who have claimed back-to-back championships, featuring a double triumph with 30 wins from thirty-two games?

Bring in a raft of former professionals that have played at the top tier of club football and global soccer as you pursue further honors.

One Greater Manchester side boasts an non-professional vets squad with 9 ex- top-flight footballers in their current roster.

222 Top Division Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Appearances

The team Vets Over 35s are situated in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Premier Tier.

Their lineup this season boasts nine former top-flight players, with a total over 1,800 top-flight games.

The high-profile roster also boasts over 220 top division scores and 325 international appearances.

The squad feature one forward, who netted thirty-seven scores in over 100 games for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from German league side Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse made his debut for the team in their most recent home-field game versus reigning champions their rivals and netted every one of the six goals in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's team for this season also features former professionals such as England and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

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

Well-Known Names and International Players

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

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the side in preseason this summer through close mate and current team player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then asked other ex-pros, who all compete in a weekly small-sided game, to join in.

Former Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse, who netted twelve scores in 65 top-flight games for the Toffees and even now attends their home games, also made his debut versus the opposition - who are based in the city and wear an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

"A mate Stephen Ireland said 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

"After that he told me we were facing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Blue shirts - I thought this is strange for me!

"When you still love the game and you feel you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to choose?

"The spectators who turn up and watch are happy and to give someone's day if they watch us playing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the joy of us having somewhere we can play, with organisation of course."

So great is the squad depth at the club, he made his first game at full-back.

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

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

"The running is what I'm after. It's enjoyable."

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

Unreal Experience

Along with Cisse's 6 goals on his first game, Ireland has netted 8 in three appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored five on his debut appearance 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 wins from 3 and a goal difference of +19.

Paul Barrow, 38, who plays on the flank for the opposition, came up against ex- Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two global tournaments for Honduras, in as well as playing in more than 200 Premier League games.

"The news was going round like a rumor they had all these ex-Premier League players," remarked the player.

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

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

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

"We really haven't stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the journey home.

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

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

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate vets team, who secured the Premier Tier title the previous campaign, along with his co-manager.

"Our team went 1-0 up and had a

Melissa Spears
Melissa Spears

A financial technology expert specializing in blockchain innovations and digital asset markets across Europe.