Meet the Sunday League Club Boasting 1,800 English Top Division Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for the team Vets in a 6-2 victory against Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you improve a outstanding veteran squad that have secured consecutive championships, featuring a league-cup double boasting 30 victories from thirty-two matches?

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

A Manchester team has an non-professional veterans team with nine former Premier League footballers in their current squad.

222 Premier League Goals, 325 International Caps

The team Vets Over-35s are situated in south the city and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Top Tier.

The lineup this season boasts nine ex- Premier League players, with a combined nearly 1,800 Premier League appearances.

This elite team also contains over 220 Premier League scores and over 320 international appearances.

The squad feature Papiss Cisse, who notched thirty-seven scores in over 100 games for his former club after moving to them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his first appearance for the team in their last home-field match versus defending title holders their rivals and netted every one of the six scores in a 6-2 win - featuring a half-hour opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this campaign also includes ex- professionals such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former top-flight footballers have claimed fifteen significant trophies and moved for total transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Well-Known Figures and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Republic of Ireland caps, scoring 4 scores

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the team in pre-season this season through good mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then invited other former professionals, who all play in a midweek small-sided match, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 goals in sixty-five top-flight games for the Toffees and still attends their home games, also made his debut against Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and use an Everton training kit as their strip.

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

"My friend Stephen told me '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 saw them sporting Blue kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

"If you still love the game and you know you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to choose?

"The people who come and watch are happy and to make a day if they watch us playing there and to pose us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

So great is the bench strength at Wythenshawe, he made his first game at full-back.

"That's a bit different but then, I enjoy running and just go inside - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

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

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

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

'Surreal Experience

In addition to the forward's 6 scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has scored 8 in 3 games for the side, while George Boyd hit five on his debut appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

The team are leading of the Premier Tier with three victories from three and a GD of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, 38, who plays on the wing for the opposition, faced former Latics defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 World Cups for his country, in as well as playing in over 200 top-flight matches.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League stars," said the player.

"I think I was a bit starstruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

"Also Heskey got on and he's got 60-odd England caps.

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

"We really haven't ceased talking about it - I was phoning my mum and sibling on the way home.

"The opponents were all dead sound, shaking our hands after the match - it was like facing a bunch of regular guys.

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

'We'll Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition vets team, who secured the Premier Tier championship last season, along with his co-manager.

"Our team scored one-nil ahead and had a

Eric Roberts
Eric Roberts

A UK-based lifestyle writer passionate about wellness, mindfulness, and sharing practical tips for everyday happiness.