Introduce the Sunday League Team With Nearly Two Thousand Top-Flight Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans during a 6-2 victory 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 can you boost a excellent experienced side that have won back-to-back championships, featuring a league-cup double boasting 30 victories from thirty-two games?

Bring in a group of ex- professionals who have competed at the top level of club and international soccer as you target more silverware.

A Manchester club has an amateur veterans team with nine former Premier League players in their present lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Appearances

The team Veterans Over 35s are located in southern the city and compete in the Cheshire Veterans League Premier Tier.

Their lineup this season includes nine former top-flight footballers, with a total nearly 1,800 top-flight matches.

The elite squad also boasts 222 Premier League scores and over 320 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who netted 37 goals in over 100 games for his former club after moving to them for £9m from German league side SC Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse made his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home match versus defending champions their rivals and netted every one of the six scores in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute opening period triple.

The team for this campaign also features former professionals such as England and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former Premier League players have secured 15 big honors and moved for combined transfer sums of around £123 million.

Famous Figures and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned six Irish caps, netting four scores

Stephen Ireland began playing for the team in pre-season this season through close friend and present team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish midfielder then invited additional ex-pros, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side match, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese striker Niasse, who netted twelve goals in 65 top-flight games for the Toffees and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut versus Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and use an Everton training kit as their strip.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse featured for Everton from 2016 and 2020

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

"Then he informed me we were facing a team from Liverpool and the shock I had when I noticed them sporting Blue kits - I say this is strange for me!

"When you still love the game and you know you can still play, anywhere you can play, what are you going to do?

"The fans who turn up and watch are pleased and to make a day if they see us playing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the pleasure of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the bench strength at the club, he had his first game at defender.

"It's a bit different but then, I love running and just move inside - I'm not defending that much," he added.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

'Surreal Feeling

In addition to the forward's six scores on debut, Ireland has scored 8 in three appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit 5 on his debut match and Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a triple in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Top Tier with three victories from three and a GD of plus nineteen.

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

Figueroa has appeared at 2 World Cups for his country, in as well as featuring in more than 200 top-flight games.

"The news was going round like a rumor they had these former top-flight stars," said the player.

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

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

"Our side held our own for a solid 20 minutes but then we had a player dismissed and it was hard.

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

"They were all friendly, shaking our hands after the game - it was like facing a group of regular guys.

"Now we are eager for the return fixture."

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition vets side, who won the Top Tier title the previous campaign, along with his co-manager.

"We went one-nil ahead and had a

David Thompson
David Thompson

Elena Visser is an experienced event planner with a passion for creating unforgettable experiences through meticulous design and coordination.