Introduce the Sunday League Squad With Over 1,800 Top-Flight Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for the team Veterans during a 6-2 win versus their opponents on 19 October (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you enhance a excellent experienced squad who have secured consecutive titles, featuring a league-cup double boasting 30 victories from 32 games?

Bring in a collection of former pro players that have performed at the elite level of club and global football as you aim for additional silverware.

One Manchester club boasts an non-professional vets team with 9 former Premier League players in their active lineup.

222 Premier League Goals, 325 Global Appearances

The team Vets Over 35s are located in southern the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans League Premier Tier.

The squad list this season includes nine former Premier League footballers, with a total over 1,800 elite matches.

This high-profile roster also boasts 222 Premier League scores and 325 global caps.

The squad include one forward, who scored thirty-seven scores in over 100 games for his former club after moving to them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

He had his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home-field match against defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six goals in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

The roster for this campaign also features ex- professionals such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- top-flight footballers have secured fifteen major honors and moved for total transfer sums of around £123m.

Household Figures and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Republic of Ireland appearances, netting 4 goals

Ireland started turning out for the team in pre-season this season through close mate and current team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then invited other former professionals, who all play in a weekly small-sided game, to participate.

Ex- Senegal forward Niasse, who scored twelve goals in 65 Premier League games for Everton and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

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

"After that he informed me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Blue kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

"When you still love the game and you feel you can still do it, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

"The fans who turn up and watch are happy and to give a moment if they watch us playing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the joy of us having a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

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

"It's a little unusual but then, I enjoy running and just move forward - I'm not staying back that much," he added.

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

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

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

Unreal Experience

Along with Cisse's 6 scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in 3 games for the side, while George Boyd hit 5 on his first appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a triple in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Premier Tier with three wins from three and a GD of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Wigan defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 World Cups for his country, in addition to featuring in over 200 top-flight matches.

"The news was spreading like wildfire they had all these ex-Premier League players," said the player.

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

"Also Heskey came on and he's has over 60 English caps.

"We held our own for a good twenty mins but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

"We literally have not ceased talking about it - I was calling my mother and brother on the journey home.

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

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

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate vets side, who won the Top Tier title the previous campaign, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Garrett Hanson
Garrett Hanson

A seasoned lifestyle journalist with over a decade of experience covering luxury brands and exclusive events worldwide.