Meet this Sunday Division Club Featuring Over 1,800 Top-Flight Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for the team Vets during a six-two triumph against their opponents on October 19th (left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you improve a outstanding experienced squad who have secured consecutive championships, featuring a league-cup double with thirty victories from 32 games?

Bring in a group of former professionals who have performed at the highest level of club football and global football as you pursue more silverware.

A Manchester side boasts an amateur veterans team with nine former Premier League players in their current roster.

222 Top Division Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are based in south Manchester and compete in the Cheshire Vets Division Premier Tier.

The lineup this campaign includes 9 ex- Premier League players, with a collective nearly 1,800 top-flight games.

The elite squad also contains 222 top division goals and 325 global caps.

The squad include one forward, who netted thirty-seven goals in 117 games for his former club after joining them for nine million pounds from German league side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse had his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home-field game against reigning champions their rivals and scored all six goals in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

The roster for this season also includes ex- pros such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- Premier League players have claimed fifteen big trophies and transferred for combined transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Household Names and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned 6 Irish caps, netting four scores

Stephen Ireland started playing for the team during preseason this season through close friend and present team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then asked other former professionals, who all compete in a midweek small-sided game, to participate.

Former Senegal forward Niasse, who netted twelve goals in 65 Premier League games for the Toffees and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his first appearance against the opposition - who are located in the city and use an Everton training kit as their strip.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse played for Everton between 2016 and 2020

"My friend Stephen Ireland said 'come and play, it's good fun'," commented Niasse.

"After that he informed me we were facing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I noticed them sporting Blue shirts - I thought this is strange for me!

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

"Those spectators who come and watch are pleased and to give someone's moment if they watch us competing there and to pose us questions - it's really about the joy of us getting a place we can play, with organisation of course."

So great is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his debut at full-back.

"It's a bit different but then, I enjoy sprinting and just move forward - I'm not defending that much," he added.

"I warn my centre-back 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to continue attacking.

"The running is what I'm seeking. It's good fun."

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

Dreamlike' Feeling

In addition to the forward's 6 scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in 3 games for the side, while Boyd hit 5 on his debut appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

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

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced former Latics defender Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to featuring in more than 200 Premier League matches.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had all these ex-Premier League stars," said the player.

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

"Also Heskey came on and he's got over 60 England caps.

"Our side competed well for a solid twenty mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was tough.

"We literally haven't ceased talking 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 facing a group of normal guys.

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

'We'll Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate veterans side, who won the Top Division championship the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team scored 1-0 up and had a

Amanda Stevens
Amanda Stevens

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in reviewing online casinos and advocating for responsible gambling practices in the UK.