Discover this Sunday League Squad Featuring 1,800 Premier League Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for Wythenshawe Veterans in a 6-2 victory versus Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you enhance a outstanding experienced team who have claimed back-to-back titles, featuring a double triumph with thirty victories from 32 games?

Bring in a group of former professionals that have competed at the top level of club and global soccer as you aim for more honors.

A Manchester team boasts an amateur veterans squad with nine former top-flight footballers in their active roster.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, 325 Global Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are situated in southern the city and compete in the Cheshire Vets League Premier Tier.

Their squad list this campaign includes 9 former top-flight footballers, with a combined over 1,800 Premier League matches.

The elite squad also boasts over 220 Premier League scores and over 320 global appearances.

They feature one forward, who scored 37 scores in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after joining them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his debut for the team in their last home game against reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored every one of the six scores in a 6-2 victory - including a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

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

Together, the ex- top-flight players have secured fifteen big honors and moved for combined transfer sums of around £123 million.

Well-Known Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He won 6 Irish caps, netting 4 scores

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the team during preseason this summer through good friend and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then asked additional ex-pros, who all play in a weekly small-sided match, to participate.

Ex- Senegal forward Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 scores in sixty-five Premier League games for the Toffees and even now goes to their home games, also made his first appearance versus the opposition - who are based in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their strip.

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

"My mate Stephen said 'join and play, it's good fun'," said Niasse.

"Then he informed me we were playing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Everton kits - I say this is strange for me!

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

"The people who turn up and see are happy and to make a day if they see us playing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the joy of us getting a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the bench strength at the club, Niasse made his first game at defender.

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

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

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

'Surreal Scenario

In addition to the forward's six goals on his first game, Ireland has scored eight in three games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit five on his debut appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a hat-trick in one game up front.

The team are top of the Top Tier with three victories from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who features on the wing for the opposition, faced ex- Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two World Cups for his country, in addition to playing in over two hundred Premier League matches.

"The news was going round like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League players," said Barrow.

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

"Even Emile [Heskey] came on and he's has 60-odd England appearances.

"We competed well for a good twenty minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was hard.

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

"They were all dead sound, shaking our hands after the match - it was like playing a bunch of normal guys.

"Now we are eager for the return match."

'We'll Still Take the Title'

The manager manages the opposition vets team, who won the Premier Tier championship the previous campaign, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went 1-0 up and had a

Zachary Valdez
Zachary Valdez

A tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and digital innovations.