Introduce the Sunday League Squad Boasting Over 1,800 Premier League Games

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

What can you enhance a outstanding veteran squad who have secured consecutive titles, featuring a league-cup double boasting thirty wins from thirty-two games?

Bring in a raft of former pro players who have performed at the highest tier of club and international football as you target further honors.

A Greater Manchester side boasts an non-professional vets team with 9 ex- top-flight footballers in their active lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, 325 Global Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are based in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire Veterans League Premier Division.

The squad list this season boasts nine former Premier League players, with a collective 1,801 elite matches.

The high-profile squad also boasts over 220 top division scores and over 320 global appearances.

The squad feature one forward, who notched thirty-seven scores in over 100 games for Newcastle United after joining them for £9m from German league side SC Freiburg in 2012.

He had his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their most recent home game against defending champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six scores in a six-two victory - featuring a half-hour opening period triple.

The roster for this season also features ex- pros such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight players have secured 15 significant honors and moved for total transfer sums of around £123 million.

Well-Known Figures and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He won six Irish caps, netting 4 goals

Ireland began turning out for the side in preseason this summer through close mate and present Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the former Irish midfielder then invited other former professionals, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side match, to join in.

Ex- Senegal striker Niasse, who netted 12 scores in sixty-five Premier League matches for Everton and even now goes to their home games, also made his first appearance versus the opposition - who are based in the city and use an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

"My mate Stephen said 'join and have a game, it's enjoyable'," said Niasse.

"Then he told me we were facing a side from the city and the shock I had when I noticed them sporting Everton shirts - I say this is strange for me!

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

"Those people who come and watch are happy and to give someone's day if they see us competing there and to pose us questions - it's really about the joy of us having somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

Such is the squad depth at the club, he had his debut at defender.

"That's a little different but then, I enjoy running and just go inside - I'm not defending that much," he said.

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

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

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

'Surreal Scenario

In addition to Cisse's six scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while Boyd hit five on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Tier with three victories from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, 38, who plays on the flank for the opposition, came up against former Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

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

"It was going round like a rumor they had these former top-flight players," remarked the player.

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

"Even Heskey got on and he's has over 60 English caps.

"Our side competed well for a solid twenty minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

"Our group really have not stopped talking about it - I was calling my mother and brother on the way home.

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

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

'We'll Still Take the Title'

The manager coaches the Collegiate vets team, who secured the Premier Division championship last season, along with his co-manager.

"We went 1-0 ahead and had a

Jennifer Patterson
Jennifer Patterson

A tech strategist with over a decade of experience in digital innovation and a passion for exploring emerging technologies.