Meet the Sunday Division Team Boasting Over 1,800 Top-Flight Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for Wythenshawe Veterans in a six-two triumph 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 do you improve a stellar experienced side who have won consecutive championships, featuring a double triumph with thirty wins from 32 matches?

Recruit a collection of former professionals that have played at the highest tier of club football and global football as you pursue more silverware.

One Greater Manchester team fields an non-professional veterans squad with nine former Premier League footballers in their present lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are based in southern the city and play in the Cheshire-based Vets League Top Division.

Their lineup this campaign includes nine ex- Premier League players, with a combined nearly 1,800 Premier League matches.

The high-profile roster also contains over 220 top division goals and over 320 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who scored 37 goals in over 100 appearances for his former club after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in 2012.

He had his first appearance for the team in their last home-field game versus defending champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored every one of the six scores in a six-two win - including a 32-minute first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's squad for this campaign also includes ex- pros such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the former Premier League players have secured 15 major trophies and moved for combined transfer fees of around £123m.

Household Figures and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned six Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring 4 scores

Ireland began playing for the team during pre-season this summer through good friend and present team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited additional former professionals, who all play in a midweek small-sided match, to participate.

Former Senegal forward Niasse, who netted 12 scores in 65 Premier League matches for the Toffees and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut against Collegiate OB - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"My mate Stephen Ireland said 'come and have a game, it's enjoyable'," commented Niasse.

"After that he informed me we were playing a side from the city and the shock I had when I saw them sporting Blue shirts - I thought this is strange for me!

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

"The fans who come and watch are happy and to give someone's day if they see us competing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us getting a place we can play, with organisation of course."

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

"That's a little unusual but then, I love running and just go forward - I'm not defending that much," he said.

"I tell my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to continue running.

"The running is what I'm seeking. It's enjoyable."

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

Along with Cisse's 6 scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has scored 8 in three games for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored five on his debut match and Lescott, a defender by trade, notched a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

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

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, faced former Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two World Cups for his country, in as well as playing in over two hundred Premier League games.

"The news was spreading like wildfire they had all these ex-Premier League stars," remarked Barrow.

"I felt I was a little awestruck playing against Figueroa to be honest.

"Even Heskey got on and he's has over 60 English appearances.

"We competed well for a solid twenty mins but then we had a man dismissed and it was tough.

"We literally haven't ceased talking about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the journey home.

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

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

'We'll Still Win the Title'

The manager coaches the Collegiate veterans team, who secured the Premier Division title the previous campaign, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team scored one-nil up and had a

Amy Harrison
Amy Harrison

Aria Vance is a financial analyst and tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in market research and digital innovation.