Introduce this Sunday Division Team Boasting Over 1,800 English Top Division Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for Wythenshawe Vets during a 6-2 win versus Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you enhance a excellent experienced squad that have won consecutive championships, featuring a league-cup double with thirty wins from thirty-two matches?

Sign a collection of former professionals who have competed at the elite tier of club football and global football as you aim for more trophies.

A Greater Manchester side fields an amateur vets squad with 9 ex- Premier League footballers in their present roster.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Goals, 325 International Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are based in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets League Top Tier.

Their lineup this campaign features nine former top-flight players, with a collective 1,801 Premier League games.

This star-studded squad also boasts over 220 top division scores and 325 global caps.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who netted thirty-seven scores in over 100 games for his former club after joining them for £9m from German league club Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his debut for the team in their last home-field game against reigning champions their rivals and scored every one of the six scores in a six-two win - featuring a half-hour first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this season also features ex- pros such as England and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League players have secured 15 major trophies and moved for combined transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Household Figures and Global Players

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

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the side in preseason this season through close mate and current team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then invited additional former professionals, who all compete in a weekly nine-a-side match, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese forward Niasse, who scored 12 goals in sixty-five Premier League games for the Toffees and still attends their home games, also made his debut against the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and use an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

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

"After that he informed me we were facing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Blue kits - I say this is strange for me!

"When you still enjoy football and you feel you can still play, wherever you can play, what are you going to choose?

"The fans who turn up and watch are pleased and to give a day if they watch us competing there and to pose us questions - it's really about the joy of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his first game at defender.

"That's a bit different but then, I love running and just move forward - I'm not defending that much," he added.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa is turning out for the team

'Surreal Experience

In addition to Cisse's 6 goals on his first game, Ireland has scored 8 in three games for the side, while Boyd scored 5 on his debut match and Lescott, a defender by position, notched a triple in one game up front.

The team are leading of the Top Tier with 3 wins from three and a GD of +19.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who features on the wing for the opposition, faced ex- Wigan full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

He has appeared at 2 global tournaments for his country, in addition to playing in more than 200 Premier League matches.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League players," remarked Barrow.

"I felt I was a little awestruck playing against him to be honest.

"Even Heskey got on and he's got 60-odd England caps.

"We held our own for a good twenty minutes but then we had a player dismissed and it was tough.

"We really have not stopped talking about it - I was phoning my mother and sibling on the journey home.

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

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

We Will Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate vets side, who won the Premier Tier championship last season, along with his co-manager.

"Our team scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Clinton Armstrong
Clinton Armstrong

A digital strategist with over a decade of experience helping UK businesses optimize their online marketing efforts and achieve measurable growth.