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

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for Wythenshawe Veterans during a six-two victory versus their opponents on October 19th (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you improve a outstanding veteran squad who have claimed back-to-back championships, including a double triumph boasting thirty victories from 32 games?

Sign a raft of former pro players that have performed at the top tier of club football and global soccer as you pursue further honors.

One Greater Manchester side fields an non-professional vets squad with 9 former top-flight footballers in their active lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Caps

The team Veterans Over-35s are situated in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire Vets League Premier Division.

Their lineup this season boasts nine former top-flight footballers, with a collective over 1,800 Premier League matches.

The elite squad also boasts over 220 top division scores and over 320 international caps.

They include Papiss Cisse, who scored 37 scores in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for ÂŁ9m from Bundesliga side Freiburg in January 2012.

He had his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home-field game versus defending title holders their rivals and scored all six goals in a 6-2 victory - featuring a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's squad for this campaign also includes ex- pros such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the former Premier League players have secured 15 significant trophies and moved for combined transfer sums of around ÂŁ123m.

Famous Names and International Stars

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

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the team during preseason this summer through good mate and current Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the former Irish player then asked additional former professionals, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side game, to join in.

Former Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve goals in sixty-five Premier League matches for the Toffees and even now attends their home games, also had his first appearance versus the opposition - who are based in the city and use an Everton training kit as their strip.

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

"A mate Stephen told me 'join and play, it's enjoyable'," said the striker.

"After that he informed me we were playing a side from the city and the shock I had when I noticed them wearing Everton shirts - I say this is strange for me!

"When you still love football and you know you can still play, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

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

Such is the bench strength at the club, he made his debut at defender.

"It's a little different but then, I love sprinting and just move forward - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

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

"That movement is what I'm seeking. It's enjoyable."

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

'Surreal Experience

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

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

One opponent, 38, who features on the flank for the opposition, faced former Wigan full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

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

"The news was going round like a rumor they had all these former top-flight players," said the player.

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

"Even Heskey came on and he's got over 60 English appearances.

"Our side held our own for a good twenty mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was hard.

"We literally haven't stopped talking about it - I was calling my mother and sibling on the journey home.

"They were all friendly, shaking our hands after the game - it was like facing a group of regular fellas.

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

'We'll Still Win the Title'

The manager coaches the Collegiate vets side, who won the Top Tier championship last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went one-nil up and had a

Sandra Taylor
Sandra Taylor

A digital strategist with over a decade of experience in helping businesses scale through innovative marketing techniques.