Discover the Sunday League Squad With Over 1,800 English Top Division Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans in a six-two triumph versus their opponents on 19 October (left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you boost a stellar experienced side that have secured back-to-back titles, including a double triumph with thirty victories from 32 matches?

Bring in a collection of former pro players who have competed at the highest tier of club and global football as you pursue additional silverware.

A Greater Manchester team fields an amateur veterans squad with 9 ex- top-flight players in their active lineup.

222 Premier League Scores, 325 Global Caps

The team Vets Over 35s are based in south the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Premier Tier.

The roster this campaign boasts nine former Premier League players, with a collective over 1,800 top-flight appearances.

This high-profile roster also contains over 220 Premier League goals and 325 global caps.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who netted thirty-seven scores in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for £9m from Bundesliga club Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home game versus reigning champions their rivals and scored every one of the six scores in a 6-2 victory - including a half-hour first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's squad for this season also features former professionals such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the ex- top-flight footballers have claimed 15 significant honors and transferred for combined transfer fees of about £123 million.

Household Figures and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned 6 Irish appearances, netting four goals

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the side in preseason this summer through good mate and current Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the former Irish player then invited other former professionals, who all play in a weekly small-sided match, to join in.

Former Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 scores in 65 top-flight matches for the Toffees and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut against Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and wear an Everton training kit as their strip.

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

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

"After that he informed me we were facing a side from Liverpool and the shock I had when I noticed them sporting Everton kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

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

"Those spectators who turn up and watch are happy and to give someone's moment if they watch us competing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the pleasure of us having a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

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

"That's a little unusual but then, I love sprinting and just move forward - 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 attacking.

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

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

Along with the forward's six scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while 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 Premier Tier with three victories from 3 and a goal difference of +19.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old boy who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at two global tournaments for his country, in as well as playing in over 200 top-flight games.

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

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

"Also Emile [Heskey] came on and he's got over 60 England appearances.

"We competed well for a good 20 minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

"Our group really haven't ceased chatting about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the journey home.

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

"Now we are eager for the return match."

'We'll Still Win the Title'

The manager coaches the Collegiate veterans side, who won the Premier Division championship the previous campaign, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went 1-0 up and had a

Ashley Blanchard
Ashley Blanchard

Aria Vance is a tech journalist and startup advisor with over a decade of experience covering Silicon Valley trends and innovations.