Meet the Sunday Division Team Featuring Over 1,800 English Top Division Games

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

What can you improve a stellar veteran squad that have secured consecutive titles, including a double triumph with thirty victories from thirty-two matches?

Bring in a raft of ex- pro players who have performed at the elite tier of club football and global soccer as you aim for more honors.

A Greater Manchester club boasts an non-professional vets team with nine former Premier League players in their active lineup.

222 Top Division Scores, 325 Global Appearances

The team Vets Over-35s are situated in southern the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets League Top Tier.

Their lineup this season features 9 ex- top-flight footballers, with a total 1,801 Premier League appearances.

The star-studded roster also boasts over 220 Premier League scores and 325 international caps.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who netted thirty-seven goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for £9m from German league side SC Freiburg in 2012.

He made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home-field match against defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted all six scores in a 6-2 victory - including a 32-minute opening period triple.

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

In total, the ex- Premier League players have won fifteen major honors and transferred for total transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Well-Known Names and Global Stars

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

Stephen Ireland started playing for the team during preseason this summer through good friend and present Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then asked other former professionals, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side game, to participate.

Ex- Senegal forward Niasse, who netted twelve goals in 65 Premier League matches for the Toffees and even now attends their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut against the opposition - who are based in the city and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"My friend Stephen said 'come and have a game, it's enjoyable'," said the striker.

"Then he informed me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I noticed them sporting Blue shirts - I thought this is wrong for me!

"When you still love football and you know you can still play, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"Those spectators who come and see are happy and to make a moment if they see us competing there and to pose us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us getting a place we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the strength in depth at the club, Niasse had his first game at full-back.

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

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

"That running is what I'm after. It's enjoyable."

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

Unreal Experience

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

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Tier with 3 victories from 3 and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for the opposition, came up against ex- Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 global tournaments for his country, in as well as featuring in more than 200 Premier League games.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had these former top-flight players," said Barrow.

"I felt I was a bit awestruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

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

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

"We really have not ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the journey home.

"The opponents were all really nice, shaking our hands after the game - it was like playing a group of normal guys.

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

We Will Still Take the Title'

The manager coaches the opposition veterans side, who secured the Premier Tier championship last season, along with his co-manager.

"Our team went 1-0 ahead and had a

James Lowe
James Lowe

Liam is a seasoned sports journalist with a passion for storytelling and a calm approach to sports analysis.