Introduce the Sunday Division Club Featuring Over 1,800 Premier League Appearances

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

How do you enhance a stellar veteran squad that have won consecutive championships, featuring a league-cup double with 30 wins from 32 matches?

Sign a raft of former pro players who have performed at the highest tier of club football and international football as you aim for additional silverware.

One Greater Manchester team boasts an amateur veterans team with nine ex- top-flight players in their present lineup.

222 Top Division Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Appearances

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

Their squad list this season includes nine former Premier League footballers, with a collective 1,801 Premier League games.

The elite roster also boasts 222 top division goals and 325 global caps.

They include one forward, who netted thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse had his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their most recent home-field game against reigning title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted all six goals in a six-two victory - including a half-hour first-half triple.

The roster for this season also includes ex- professionals such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the former top-flight footballers have claimed fifteen big trophies and moved for total transfer fees of around £123m.

Famous Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned six Irish caps, netting 4 goals

Stephen Ireland began playing for the side in pre-season this season through close mate and current team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then asked other ex-pros, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side game, to join in.

Former Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve scores in sixty-five Premier League matches for the Toffees and still attends their home games, also had his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and use an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

"A mate Stephen said 'come and have a game, it's good fun'," said the striker.

"Then he informed me we were facing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Blue shirts - I thought this is strange for me!

"If you still enjoy football and you feel you can still play, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"Those fans who turn up and see are pleased and to give someone's moment if they watch us competing there and to pose us queries - it's more like the joy of us having somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the squad depth at the club, he made his debut at full-back.

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

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

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

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

'Surreal Scenario

In addition to Cisse's six goals on his first game, Ireland has scored eight in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while Boyd hit 5 on his debut appearance and Lescott, a defender by position, notched a hat-trick in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Division with 3 victories from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against former Wigan full-back Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at 2 World Cups for his country, in as well as featuring in over 200 Premier League games.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had all these ex-Premier League players," said Barrow.

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

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

"Our side held our own for a good twenty minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

"Our group really haven't stopped chatting about it - I was phoning my mother and sibling on the way home.

"The opponents were all dead sound, shaking our hands after the match - it was like facing a bunch of regular guys.

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

'We'll Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition veterans side, who secured the Premier Tier championship last season, along with his co-manager.

"We went 1-0 ahead and had a

Jesse Tucker
Jesse Tucker

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