Meet this Sunday League Squad With Over 1,800 Premier League Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Vets during a 6-2 win versus their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you improve a stellar veteran squad that have claimed consecutive championships, including a double triumph with 30 victories from thirty-two games?

Bring in a collection of former professionals who have played at the elite level of club football and global soccer as you target additional trophies.

A Greater Manchester club fields an non-professional veterans squad with nine ex- Premier League players in their present lineup.

222 Top Division Scores, 325 International Caps

The team Veterans Over 35s are situated in southern Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Top Division.

Their lineup this campaign includes 9 former Premier League footballers, with a combined nearly 1,800 top-flight matches.

The elite squad also boasts 222 Premier League scores and 325 international appearances.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who scored 37 scores in over 100 games for his former club after joining them for nine million pounds from German league side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home match versus defending title holders their rivals and netted every one of the six scores in a 6-2 victory - featuring a 32-minute first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's squad for this season also includes ex- pros such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League players have claimed 15 major honors and moved for combined transfer fees of about £123 million.

Well-Known Figures and International Players

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

Ireland began playing for the side in preseason this season through good mate and current team player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then asked additional ex-pros, who all play in a weekly small-sided game, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve goals in 65 top-flight games for Everton and even now attends their home games, also had his first appearance versus the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Everton training kit as their strip.

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

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

"Then he informed me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Everton kits - I say this is strange for me!

"If you still enjoy the game and you know you can still play, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"Those fans who turn up and watch are happy and to make a moment if they watch us playing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the squad depth at the club, Niasse made his first game at full-back.

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

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for the team

'Surreal Experience

Along with Cisse's six scores on his first game, Ireland has netted eight in three games for the side, while Boyd scored 5 on his first appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a triple in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Tier with three victories from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for the opposition, faced ex- Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in addition to playing in over 200 top-flight games.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had all these ex-Premier League stars," remarked Barrow.

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

"Even Heskey came on and he's got 60-odd English caps.

"Our side held our own for a good 20 mins but then we had a player sent off and it was hard.

"Our group really have not stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the journey home.

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

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

We Will Still Take the Title'

The manager coaches the opposition vets team, who won the Top Tier title last season, along with his co-manager.

"We scored one-nil up and had a

Kristin Bray
Kristin Bray

Avid tabletop gamer and dice enthusiast with a passion for crafting unique gaming experiences.