Meet this Sunday League Club Featuring Nearly Two Thousand Top-Flight Matches

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

What do you boost a outstanding veteran side who have claimed consecutive titles, including a double triumph with thirty victories from 32 games?

Recruit a raft of former pro players that have competed at the highest level of club and global soccer as you target more honors.

A Greater Manchester side boasts an non-professional veterans team with nine ex- Premier League footballers in their present roster.

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

The team Vets Over-35s are situated in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire Vets Division Premier Division.

Their lineup this season features 9 ex- Premier League players, with a combined 1,801 elite matches.

This star-studded team also contains over 220 Premier League goals and over 320 global appearances.

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

Cisse made his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home-field game against reigning champions their rivals and scored every one of the six goals in a six-two victory - featuring a half-hour first-half triple.

The roster for this season also includes former professionals such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

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

Household Figures and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Irish appearances, netting four goals

Stephen Ireland started playing for the side during pre-season this summer through close mate and present team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then asked additional ex-pros, who all compete in a weekly small-sided match, to participate.

Former Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve goals in 65 top-flight games for the Toffees and even now goes to their home games, also made his first appearance against the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"A mate Stephen said 'join and play, it's a laugh'," said the striker.

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

"If you still enjoy football and you know you can still play, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"Those people who turn up and see are pleased and to give a day if they see us competing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the joy of us getting a place we can play, with structure of course."

Such is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, he had his first game at full-back.

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

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

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

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

'Surreal Experience

In addition to the forward's 6 goals on debut, Ireland has scored eight in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored five on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, notched a hat-trick in one match up front.

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

One opponent, 38, who plays on the flank for the opposition, faced former Latics full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two World Cups for his country, in as well as featuring in more than two hundred Premier League games.

"It was spreading like wildfire they had these former top-flight players," remarked the player.

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

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

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

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

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

"Now we are eager for the return match."

We Will Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate vets side, who secured the Premier Tier title last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"We went 1-0 up and had a

James Martin
James Martin

Maya Chen is a lifestyle writer and digital content creator with a passion for exploring modern trends and sharing practical insights.