Introduce this Sunday League Squad With Nearly Two Thousand English Top Division Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Vets in a six-two victory versus Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you enhance a excellent veteran side that have secured back-to-back championships, including a double triumph boasting thirty wins from 32 matches?

Sign a group of former professionals who have competed at the highest level of club football and global soccer as you target additional silverware.

One Greater Manchester team boasts an non-professional vets team with nine former top-flight players in their current squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Goals, 325 International Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over-35s are based in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Premier Division.

The squad list this season features nine former top-flight footballers, with a total nearly 1,800 Premier League matches.

This high-profile squad also includes 222 top division goals and over 320 international appearances.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who netted thirty-seven goals in 117 games for his former club after joining them for nine million pounds from German league side SC Freiburg in 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home game versus reigning champions their rivals and netted all six goals in a 6-2 win - featuring a half-hour opening period triple.

The squad for this campaign also includes former professionals such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League players have claimed 15 big honors and moved for total transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Household Names and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned 6 Irish caps, scoring four scores

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the side in pre-season this season through good friend and present Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then asked additional former professionals, who all compete in a weekly nine-a-side match, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese forward Niasse, who netted 12 scores in sixty-five top-flight matches for Everton and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut versus Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and use an Blue training kit as their strip.

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

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

"After that he informed me we were facing a team from Liverpool and the shock I had when I saw them sporting Everton shirts - I say this is strange for me!

"If you still enjoy football and you know you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to choose?

"The fans who come and see are pleased and to make a moment if they see us playing there and to pose us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us having a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the bench strength at Wythenshawe, he made his debut at full-back.

"It's a little different but then, I enjoy running and just move 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 continue attacking.

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

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

Unreal Scenario

Along with the forward's six scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has netted eight in 3 games for the side, while George Boyd hit five on his first appearance and Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a triple in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Division with 3 victories from three and a GD of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against ex- Latics defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two World Cups for Honduras, in addition to playing in more than 200 Premier League matches.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had these former top-flight stars," said the player.

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

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

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

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

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

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

We Will Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition veterans side, who won the Premier Division championship last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"We went 1-0 up and had a

Wendy Clark
Wendy Clark

A seasoned travel writer and cultural anthropologist with over a decade of experience exploring remote destinations and documenting unique traditions.