Introduce the Sunday Division Squad With Nearly Two Thousand Top-Flight Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for Wythenshawe Veterans during a six-two victory against their opponents on October 19th (left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you boost a outstanding experienced team who have won consecutive championships, including a league-cup double boasting thirty wins from 32 matches?

Bring in a raft of former pro players that have competed at the top tier of club football and global soccer as you aim for more trophies.

One Manchester team fields an amateur veterans team with 9 ex- Premier League players in their current squad.

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

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are located in south the city and play in the Cheshire-based Vets League Top Tier.

Their roster this campaign features nine ex- Premier League players, with a collective over 1,800 Premier League games.

The high-profile squad also includes 222 top division goals and over 320 international caps.

The squad include one forward, who notched thirty-seven goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after joining them for nine million pounds from German league side Freiburg in January 2012.

He had his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their most recent home game versus reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six scores in a six-two victory - featuring a half-hour opening period triple.

The squad for this campaign also includes former pros such as England and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the ex- Premier League footballers have secured 15 significant honors and moved for combined transfer fees of approximately £123m.

Well-Known Names and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won 6 Republic of Ireland appearances, netting four scores

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the team in preseason this season through good friend and current team player Blake Norton, and the former Irish midfielder then asked other former professionals, who all compete in a midweek small-sided match, to join in.

Ex- Senegal forward Niasse, who scored twelve goals in sixty-five top-flight games for Everton and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut against the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and use an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

"My friend Stephen Ireland said 'join and play, it's a laugh'," commented the striker.

"Then he informed me we were facing a team from the city and the surprise I had when I noticed them sporting Blue kits - I thought this is strange for me!

"When you still enjoy football and you feel you can still do it, anywhere you can play, what are you going to do?

"The people who turn up and watch are happy and to give someone's day if they see us competing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the bench strength at the club, Niasse made his first game at full-back.

"It's a bit different but then, I love sprinting and just go forward - I'm not defending that much," he said.

"I warn my defender 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to continue attacking.

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is turning out for Wythenshawe

'Surreal Scenario

In addition to the forward's six scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit five on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

The team are top of the Premier Tier with three wins from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for the opposition, came up against former Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young son who Emile Heskey was.

He has appeared at two global tournaments for his country, in addition to playing in more than 200 top-flight games.

"It was going round like a rumor they had all these former top-flight players," remarked the player.

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

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

"Our side competed well for a solid 20 mins but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

"Our group really have not ceased talking about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the journey home.

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

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

'We'll Still Take the League'

The manager coaches the opposition veterans team, who won the Top Division title the previous campaign, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team scored one-nil ahead and had a

Manuel Tapia
Manuel Tapia

Tech journalist and gadget reviewer with over a decade of experience in the industry, passionate about uncovering the latest innovations.