Discover this Sunday League Team Boasting Nearly Two Thousand Top-Flight Matches

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

How do you improve a stellar experienced side who have won consecutive titles, featuring a league-cup double with thirty victories from thirty-two matches?

Bring in a raft of former pro players who have performed at the highest level of club football and global football as you aim for additional honors.

One Manchester team boasts an amateur vets squad with 9 former Premier League players in their present squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Caps

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

Their squad list this campaign boasts nine ex- top-flight footballers, with a collective over 1,800 Premier League matches.

This star-studded team also contains 222 top division scores and over 320 international caps.

The squad feature Papiss Cisse, who scored 37 scores in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home game versus reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored every one of the six goals in a six-two victory - featuring a 32-minute opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this campaign also features ex- professionals such as English and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight footballers have won 15 big trophies and moved for combined transfer fees of around £123 million.

Famous Figures and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He won 6 Irish appearances, netting four goals

Stephen Ireland began playing for the side during pre-season this season through good mate and present team teammate Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then invited additional ex-pros, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side match, to participate.

Former Senegal striker Niasse, who netted twelve scores in sixty-five Premier League matches for the Toffees and still attends their home games, also had his debut versus the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Blue training kit as their strip.

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

"My mate Stephen said 'join and have a game, it's enjoyable'," said the striker.

"After that he told me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the shock I had when I noticed them sporting 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 choose?

"Those people who turn up and see are happy and to make someone's day if they watch us competing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the pleasure of us getting a place we can play, with organisation of course."

So great is the bench strength at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his debut at defender.

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

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

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

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

Unreal Scenario

In addition to the forward's 6 scores on debut, Ireland has netted eight in 3 games for the side, while George Boyd scored five on his debut match and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

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

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced former Latics defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to featuring in more than 200 top-flight matches.

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

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

"Also Heskey came on and he's has over 60 English appearances.

"Our side held our own for a solid twenty mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was hard.

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

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

"Now we are eager for the return match."

We Will Still Win the League'

The manager manages the Collegiate veterans side, who secured the Top Division title the previous campaign, along with his co-manager.

"We scored one-nil ahead and had a

David Martin
David Martin

A reflective writer and storyteller passionate about exploring human experiences through personal narratives and daily observations.