Introduce this Sunday League Squad Featuring Nearly Two Thousand Top-Flight Appearances

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

How do you enhance a excellent veteran team who have secured consecutive championships, including a double triumph with 30 victories from thirty-two matches?

Sign a raft of ex- pro players who have competed at the elite level of club football and international football as you pursue more honors.

One Greater Manchester side boasts an non-professional vets team with 9 ex- top-flight footballers in their active roster.

222 Top Division Scores, 325 Global Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are situated in southern the city and play in the Cheshire Veterans Division Premier Tier.

Their roster this campaign boasts nine ex- Premier League players, with a total nearly 1,800 top-flight matches.

The elite roster also includes over 220 Premier League scores and 325 global appearances.

The squad feature Papiss Cisse, who notched thirty-seven scores in 117 appearances for his former club after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home game versus defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six scores in a 6-2 win - including a 32-minute opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this campaign also features ex- pros such as English and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- Premier League players have won fifteen big honors and transferred for total transfer sums of about £123 million.

Famous Names and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Republic of Ireland appearances, netting 4 scores

Ireland started turning out for the side during preseason this summer through good mate and present team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then asked other former professionals, who all play in a weekly small-sided match, to participate.

Ex- Senegal striker Niasse, who scored 12 scores in 65 Premier League games for Everton and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"A mate Stephen Ireland told me 'join and play, it's a laugh'," commented Niasse.

"After that he informed me we were facing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Blue shirts - I thought this is strange for me!

"When you still enjoy the game and you know you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to choose?

"Those spectators who come and see are happy and to make someone's day if they see us playing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the pleasure of us having somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

Such is the strength in depth at the club, Niasse made his debut at full-back.

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

"I warn my centre-back 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to keep attacking.

"That movement is what I'm looking for. It's enjoyable."

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa is turning out for Wythenshawe

Unreal Feeling

Along with the forward's 6 scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has scored 8 in 3 appearances for the side, while Boyd scored 5 on his debut appearance and Lescott, a defender by position, scored a hat-trick in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Top Division with three wins from three and a GD of +19.

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Latics full-back Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his nine-year-old boy who Heskey was.

He has played at 2 global tournaments for his country, in addition to playing in more than 200 Premier League matches.

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

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

"Even Heskey came on and he's has over 60 England caps.

"Our side held our own for a good 20 minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was hard.

"We really have not stopped talking about it - I was phoning my mother and sibling on the journey home.

"The opponents were all friendly, shaking our hands after the game - it was like playing a bunch of regular fellas.

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

'We'll Still Win the Title'

The manager coaches the Collegiate veterans side, who won the Top Tier title the previous campaign, together with his co-manager.

"We scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Michelle Miller
Michelle Miller

A seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience covering UK affairs, passionate about storytelling and cultural analysis.