Discover this Sunday League Team Boasting Nearly Two Thousand Top-Flight Games

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

How do you boost a stellar experienced side that have claimed consecutive titles, including a double triumph with thirty wins from 32 matches?

Recruit a group of former professionals that have played at the elite tier of club football and global football as you pursue more honors.

A Greater Manchester side fields an amateur veterans squad with nine ex- Premier League players in their active squad.

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

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are based in southern Manchester and play in the Cheshire Vets League Premier Tier.

Their squad list this campaign boasts nine ex- top-flight footballers, with a total 1,801 top-flight matches.

The high-profile roster also boasts over 220 top division scores and over 320 international caps.

They include Papiss Cisse, who netted 37 goals in over 100 games for his former club after moving to them for nine million pounds from German league side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse had his debut for the team in their last home game against defending title holders their rivals and scored all six goals in a six-two victory - featuring a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's roster for this season also features former pros such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- Premier League footballers have claimed 15 big honors and transferred for combined transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Well-Known Names and Global Stars

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

Ireland began playing for the team during preseason this season through good mate and present team teammate Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then invited additional ex-pros, who all compete in a weekly nine-a-side match, to participate.

Former Senegal forward Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 goals in 65 Premier League games for the Toffees and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and use an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

"My friend Stephen Ireland said 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," said the striker.

"Then he told me we were facing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I noticed them sporting Blue kits - I say this is strange for me!

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

"The spectators who turn up and see are happy and to give someone's day if they see us competing there and to ask us queries - it's really about the pleasure of us having a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

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

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

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

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

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

'Surreal Scenario

In addition to the forward's 6 goals on his first game, Stephen Ireland has scored 8 in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while Boyd hit five on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, notched a triple in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Premier Tier with 3 wins from 3 and a goal difference of +19.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against ex- Wigan defender Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

He has appeared at 2 global tournaments for Honduras, in as well as playing in over 200 top-flight matches.

"It was going round like wildfire they had these former top-flight players," said the player.

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

"Also Heskey came on and he's has 60-odd England caps.

"We competed well for a solid 20 mins but then we had a man dismissed and it was hard.

"Our group literally haven't stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the journey home.

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

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

We Will Still Win the Title'

The manager manages the Collegiate vets team, who won the Top Tier title the previous campaign, together with his co-manager.

"We scored 1-0 up and had a

Christine Brown
Christine Brown

Ergonomics enthusiast and content creator focused on home office optimization.