Discover this Sunday League Squad Boasting Nearly Two Thousand English Top Division Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for the team Vets during a six-two victory against their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you improve a excellent veteran team who have secured back-to-back titles, including a double triumph with 30 victories from 32 games?

Recruit a group of former pro players who have competed at the highest tier of club and international soccer as you pursue more trophies.

A Manchester team has an amateur vets team with 9 former Premier League footballers in their active roster.

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

The team Vets Over-35s are based in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans League Top Division.

Their roster this season includes 9 former Premier League footballers, with a collective over 1,800 elite appearances.

This high-profile roster also includes 222 top division scores and over 320 global appearances.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who netted 37 goals in over 100 appearances for his former club after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home-field game versus reigning champions their rivals and netted all six goals in a six-two victory - featuring a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

The squad for this campaign also features ex- pros such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League players have won 15 major trophies and moved for combined transfer fees of around £123 million.

Well-Known Names and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned 6 Republic of Ireland caps, netting 4 scores

Ireland began turning out for the side during pre-season this season through close mate and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Irish midfielder then asked additional ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side match, to participate.

Former Senegalese forward Niasse, who scored 12 scores in 65 top-flight matches for Everton and still attends their home games, also made his debut against Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse featured for the club between 2016 and 2020

"My mate Stephen said 'join and play, it's enjoyable'," commented Niasse.

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

"If you still love the game and you feel you can still do it, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to do?

"Those fans who come and see are happy and to give a day if they watch us playing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us having a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

So great is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse had his debut at full-back.

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

"I warn my centre-back 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to keep attacking.

"The movement is what I'm looking for. It's good fun."

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

Unreal Scenario

Along with Cisse's six goals on his first game, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in 3 appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit 5 on his first match and Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a triple in one game as a striker.

The team are leading of the Top Tier with 3 victories from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

One opponent, 38, who features on the flank for the opposition, came up against ex- Wigan defender Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in as well as playing in more than 200 top-flight matches.

"The news was spreading like wildfire they had these ex-Premier League players," said Barrow.

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

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

"Our side held our own for a good twenty mins but then we had a man dismissed and it was tough.

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

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

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

We Will Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition vets side, who secured the Top Tier title the previous campaign, along with his co-manager.

"We went 1-0 ahead and had a

Mr. Jason Davis DVM
Mr. Jason Davis DVM

A seasoned venture capital analyst with over a decade of experience in UK tech investments and startup ecosystems.