Meet this Sunday League Squad With 1,800 Premier League Matches

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

How can you boost a outstanding experienced side who have claimed back-to-back titles, featuring a league-cup double with 30 wins from 32 matches?

Sign a collection of former professionals who have competed at the highest tier of club football and international football as you pursue more honors.

One Manchester team boasts an non-professional vets team with 9 ex- Premier League players in their active roster.

222 Top Division Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over-35s are situated in south Manchester and compete in the Cheshire Vets League Top Division.

The lineup this season boasts 9 ex- Premier League players, with a combined 1,801 top-flight matches.

This high-profile team also boasts over 220 top division goals and over 320 global appearances.

They feature Papiss Cisse, who scored thirty-seven goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for £9m from Bundesliga club Freiburg in 2012.

He made his debut for the team in their last home-field match versus reigning title holders their rivals and netted all six scores in a 6-2 win - featuring a 32-minute first-half triple.

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

Together, the former Premier League players have secured 15 significant trophies and moved for combined transfer sums of around £123 million.

Household Figures and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Irish caps, netting 4 scores

Stephen Ireland started playing for the team during pre-season this season through good friend and present Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then asked other former professionals, who all play in a weekly small-sided match, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese striker Niasse, who scored twelve goals in 65 Premier League games for Everton and even now goes to their home games, also made his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and use an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
He featured for Everton between 2016 and 2020

"A mate Stephen told me 'join and play, it's good fun'," commented the striker.

"After that he told me we were facing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I noticed them sporting Blue shirts - I say this is strange for me!

"If you still enjoy football and you know you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to do?

"Those spectators who turn up and watch are happy and to give someone's day if they watch us playing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

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

"That's a little unusual but then, I love sprinting and just go inside - I'm not staying back that much," he added.

"I tell my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to keep attacking.

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

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

'Surreal Scenario

Along with the forward's six goals on debut, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a triple in one match up front.

The team are top of the Top Division with 3 victories from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for the opposition, came up against former Latics full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two global tournaments for his country, in addition to featuring in more than two hundred Premier League games.

"It was spreading like wildfire they had all these former top-flight players," said the player.

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

"Also Emile [Heskey] got on and he's got 60-odd England caps.

"Our side competed well for a good twenty mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was hard.

"Our group really haven't ceased talking about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the journey home.

"They were all really nice, shaking our hands after the game - it was like facing a group of normal guys.

"Now we are eager for the second match."

We Will Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate vets side, who won the Top Division title the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went 1-0 up and had a

Stacy Jackson
Stacy Jackson

A seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience covering international affairs and technology, dedicated to delivering accurate and engaging news.