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

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for the team Veterans in a six-two win against Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you boost a excellent veteran team that have won consecutive championships, featuring a double triumph with 30 victories from 32 matches?

Recruit a collection of former pro players that have played at the top level of club football and international soccer as you pursue further honors.

A Manchester team fields an non-professional veterans squad with 9 former Premier League players in their active squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Caps

The team Veterans Over 35s are located in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire Vets League Top Division.

The squad list this season features 9 former Premier League players, with a combined nearly 1,800 elite games.

This star-studded squad also boasts 222 top division goals and 325 international caps.

The squad include one forward, who notched thirty-seven scores in 117 games for his former club after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home-field match against reigning title holders their rivals and scored all six scores in a six-two win - including a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's squad for this campaign also includes ex- pros such as England and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former top-flight footballers have won fifteen big trophies and transferred for total transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Well-Known Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Irish appearances, netting four scores

Stephen Ireland started playing for the side in preseason this season through good mate and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the former Irish midfielder then invited additional former professionals, who all play in a midweek small-sided game, to participate.

Former Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 scores in 65 top-flight games for the Toffees and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut versus Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

"My mate Stephen told me 'come and have a game, it's a laugh'," said the striker.

"After that he informed me we were facing a team from the city and the shock I had when I noticed them wearing Blue shirts - I thought this is wrong for me!

"If you still love the game and you feel you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to do?

"Those people who turn up and watch are pleased and to make a moment if they see us playing there and to pose us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

So great is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, he had his debut at full-back.

"That's a bit unusual but then, I love sprinting and just go inside - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa is turning out for the team

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to the forward's six scores on his first game, Ireland has scored 8 in three games for the side, while George Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

Wythenshawe are top of the Premier Division with 3 wins from three and a GD of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for the opposition, faced former Wigan defender Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in as well as featuring in over two hundred top-flight games.

"It was going round like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League players," remarked Barrow.

"I think I was a bit awestruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

"Also Emile [Heskey] came on and he's has 60-odd England appearances.

"We competed well for a good twenty mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was tough.

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

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

"Now we can't wait for the return match."

We Will Still Take the Title'

The manager coaches the opposition veterans side, who won the Top Tier title last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team scored one-nil ahead and had a

Jennifer Fields
Jennifer Fields

A technology strategist with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and business analytics.