Introduce the Sunday Division Club Boasting 1,800 English Top Division Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for the team Vets during a 6-2 win against Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you boost a stellar experienced side who have secured consecutive championships, including a league-cup double with thirty wins from 32 games?

Recruit a raft of ex- professionals who have performed at the top level of club football and global football as you aim for further honors.

One Greater Manchester team has an amateur vets team with 9 ex- Premier League players in their present lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Goals, 325 Global Appearances

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

The roster this campaign boasts 9 ex- top-flight players, with a collective over 1,800 top-flight appearances.

The elite roster also contains 222 Premier League goals and over 320 global appearances.

They include one forward, who scored thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for his former club after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home-field match versus reigning title holders Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six goals in a 6-2 victory - including a half-hour first-half triple.

The team for this campaign also includes former professionals such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former top-flight players have claimed fifteen significant trophies and transferred for combined transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Famous Figures and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Republic of Ireland caps, scoring four scores

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the side during pre-season this season through close mate and current Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish midfielder then asked other former professionals, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side game, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who scored 12 goals in 65 Premier League games for the Toffees and still attends their home games, also had his first appearance versus the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and use an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

"My mate Stephen Ireland told me 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

"Then he informed me we were playing a side from the city and the shock I had when I noticed them sporting Everton shirts - I say this is wrong for me!

"If you still love football and you feel you can still do it, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"The spectators who turn up and watch are pleased and to make a moment if they see us playing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can play, with organisation of course."

Such is the squad depth at the club, he had his debut at full-back.

"That's a bit unusual but then, I enjoy sprinting and just go forward - I'm not defending that much," he added.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa is playing for the team

Dreamlike' Experience

Along with the forward's six goals on his first game, Ireland has netted eight in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored five on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a triple in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Division with 3 wins from three and a goal difference of +19.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Latics full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 global tournaments for his country, in addition to playing in over two hundred Premier League matches.

"It was spreading like wildfire they had all these former top-flight stars," said Barrow.

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

"Also Heskey came on and he's got 60-odd England appearances.

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

"Our group literally have not stopped chatting about it - I was phoning my mother and sibling on the way home.

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

"Now we are eager for the return match."

We Will Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition veterans side, who won the Premier Division title last season, along with his co-manager.

"We went 1-0 up and had a

Cody Burke
Cody Burke

A wellness coach and lifestyle writer passionate about mindfulness and holistic living, sharing practical advice for personal growth.