Meet this Sunday Division Club Featuring 1,800 English Top Division Matches

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

What can you improve a stellar experienced side that have claimed consecutive championships, including a double triumph boasting thirty wins from 32 games?

Bring in a collection of ex- pro players who have performed at the top level of club and international football as you aim for additional trophies.

One Greater Manchester club boasts an amateur veterans team with 9 ex- top-flight players in their active squad.

222 Premier League Scores, 325 Global Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are situated in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Vets League Top Division.

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

This elite roster also boasts over 220 top division goals and 325 global appearances.

The squad include one forward, who netted 37 goals in over 100 games for his former club after joining them for £9m from Bundesliga club Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home-field match versus reigning title holders Collegiate Old Boys and scored every one of the six scores in a six-two win - featuring a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's team for this season also includes ex- professionals such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the former top-flight players have claimed 15 significant honors and transferred for combined transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Well-Known Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned six Republic of Ireland appearances, netting four goals

Stephen Ireland began playing for the side in pre-season this season through close friend and present Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then invited additional former professionals, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side game, to participate.

Former Senegalese striker Niasse, who scored 12 scores in 65 Premier League games for Everton and even now goes to their home games, also made his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"My friend Stephen told me 'come and play, it's a laugh'," commented Niasse.

"Then he informed me we were playing a team from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Blue shirts - I say this is strange for me!

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

"The spectators who come and watch are pleased and to make a moment if they watch us playing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the joy of us getting somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

Such is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse had his debut at full-back.

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

"I tell my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to continue running.

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

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

'Surreal Feeling

In addition to the forward's six goals on debut, Ireland has netted 8 in 3 appearances for the side, while George Boyd scored five on his first match and Lescott, a defender by position, scored a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

The team are leading of the Top Division with 3 wins from three and a goal difference of +19.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to featuring in over 200 Premier League matches.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had these former top-flight players," said the player.

"I felt I was a little starstruck facing him to be honest.

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

"We competed well for a solid twenty minutes but then we had a player dismissed and it was hard.

"Our group literally haven't ceased talking about it - I was calling my mother and sibling on the way home.

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

"Now we are eager for the second match."

'We'll Still Win the Title'

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

"Our team scored one-nil ahead and had a

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Jennifer Barnett

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