Introduce this Sunday Division Squad Boasting 1,800 Premier League Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for the team Vets during a six-two victory versus their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you boost a outstanding veteran side who have claimed consecutive titles, including a league-cup double boasting 30 wins from 32 matches?

Recruit a group of ex- professionals that have performed at the elite tier of club and global soccer as you target further trophies.

One Greater Manchester club boasts an non-professional veterans squad with nine former top-flight footballers in their active lineup.

222 Top Division Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Appearances

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

Their lineup this season includes 9 ex- Premier League footballers, with a combined 1,801 Premier League appearances.

This elite team also includes 222 top division scores and 325 global appearances.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who notched thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for £9m from German league side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his debut for the team in their last home-field match against reigning champions their rivals and netted every one of the six goals in a six-two victory - featuring a half-hour first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's squad for this season also features ex- pros such as England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight players have won 15 significant honors and transferred for total transfer fees of around £123m.

Famous Names and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned six Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring four goals

Ireland started playing for the team in pre-season this summer through good mate and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then asked other ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side match, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse, who netted twelve goals in 65 top-flight matches for the Toffees and even now attends their home games, also made his debut versus the opposition - who are based in the city and use an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

"A friend Stephen Ireland said 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," said Niasse.

"After that he told me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the shock I had when I saw them wearing Everton shirts - I thought this is wrong for me!

"When you still love football and you feel you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to choose?

"The spectators who come and see are happy and to give someone's day if they watch us playing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the joy of us having a place we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his debut at full-back.

"That's a little different but then, I love sprinting and just go 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.

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

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

Unreal Scenario

In addition to the forward's 6 scores on debut, Ireland has netted eight in 3 games for the side, while Boyd scored five on his first appearance and Lescott, a defender by trade, notched a hat-trick in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Premier Tier with three victories from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against ex- Wigan defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to playing in over two hundred Premier League matches.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had these former top-flight players," said Barrow.

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

"Also Heskey got on and he's has over 60 England caps.

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

"Our group really haven't stopped talking about it - I was calling my mother and brother on the journey home.

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

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

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition veterans team, who won the Premier Division championship the previous campaign, together with his co-manager.

"We scored one-nil up and had a

Anna Page PhD
Anna Page PhD

Maya Chen is a tech journalist and software developer with over a decade of experience covering AI innovations and startup ecosystems.