Introduce the Sunday Division Squad With Over 1,800 Top-Flight Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans during 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

What can you boost a outstanding veteran squad that have secured consecutive titles, featuring a league-cup double boasting 30 victories from 32 games?

Sign a raft of ex- pro players who have played at the top level of club and international soccer as you aim for more trophies.

One Greater Manchester side boasts an non-professional veterans team with nine ex- Premier League players in their active lineup.

222 Premier League Goals, 325 International Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are located in southern the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Top Tier.

The lineup this season boasts nine former top-flight footballers, with a total 1,801 Premier League matches.

The high-profile team also boasts 222 Premier League goals and over 320 global caps.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who netted 37 scores in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for £9m from German league club SC Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their most recent home match against defending champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six goals in a six-two win - featuring a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

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

Together, the ex- top-flight footballers have won 15 significant trophies and transferred for total transfer sums of around £123 million.

Household Figures and International Players

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

Ireland began turning out for the team in pre-season this season through close mate and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited other ex-pros, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side game, to participate.

Former Senegalese forward Niasse, who netted 12 goals in sixty-five top-flight matches for Everton and still attends their home games, also had his first appearance versus the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and use an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

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

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

"Then he told me we were facing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Everton shirts - I say this is strange for me!

"If you still enjoy football and you feel you can still do it, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"Those fans who come and see are happy and to make a moment if they watch us playing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the pleasure of us having a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

So great is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse had his first game at defender.

"That's a little unusual but then, I love sprinting and just go inside - 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 movement is what I'm after. It's good fun."

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to Cisse's six scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in three appearances for the side, while George Boyd scored 5 on his debut match and Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a hat-trick in one game up front.

The team are top of the Premier Tier with 3 victories from three and a goal difference of +19.

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against former Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

He has played at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in addition to featuring in over 200 Premier League games.

"It was going round like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League players," remarked Barrow.

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

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

"We competed well for a solid 20 mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was tough.

"Our group literally haven't ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the way home.

"They were all friendly, shaking our hands after the match - it was like playing a bunch of regular fellas.

"Now we are eager for the return fixture."

We Will Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition vets side, who won the Top Division title last season, together with his co-manager.

"We scored 1-0 up and had a

Ann Miller
Ann Miller

Mia Thompson is a bingo enthusiast and writer with 10 years of experience in the gaming industry.