Discover the Sunday Division Squad Featuring Nearly Two Thousand Top-Flight Appearances

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

How can you improve a stellar experienced squad who have won consecutive titles, featuring a league-cup double boasting 30 victories from 32 games?

Bring in a collection of ex- pro players who have performed at the top tier of club and international soccer as you target additional honors.

A Manchester side has an non-professional vets squad with 9 former top-flight players in their active squad.

222 Premier League Scores, 325 Global Caps

The team Vets Over 35s are based in south the city and play in the Cheshire Veterans Division Premier Tier.

Their lineup this campaign includes nine ex- top-flight footballers, with a combined 1,801 top-flight games.

This star-studded team also boasts over 220 top division scores and over 320 global caps.

The squad feature one forward, who notched thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for his former club after signing for them for nine million pounds from German league side Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his debut for the team in their most recent home match versus defending champions their rivals and netted every one of the six goals in a six-two victory - including a half-hour opening period hat-trick.

The roster for this campaign also features ex- professionals such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League footballers have secured fifteen significant trophies and moved for total transfer sums of about £123m.

Household Figures and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned 6 Irish appearances, scoring 4 goals

Ireland started turning out for the side during preseason this summer through close friend and current Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish midfielder then asked additional ex-pros, who all play in a midweek small-sided match, to participate.

Ex- Senegal forward Niasse, who scored twelve goals in 65 top-flight matches for Everton and even now attends their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut versus Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Everton training kit as their strip.

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

"A friend Stephen Ireland said 'join and play, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

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

"When you still enjoy the game and you feel you can still do it, anywhere you can play, what are you going to do?

"Those spectators who come and see are pleased and to give a day if they see us playing there and to pose us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us having somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

Such is the strength in depth at the club, he made his first game at full-back.

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

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

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

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

Along with Cisse's six goals on his first game, Ireland has netted eight in 3 appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored five on his first appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a hat-trick in one match up front.

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

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the flank for the opposition, came up against former Latics full-back Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 World Cups for his country, in addition to featuring in over 200 Premier League matches.

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

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

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

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

"Our group really have not ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and sibling on the way home.

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

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

We Will Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate vets team, who won the Top Tier championship last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"We scored one-nil up and had a

Kirk Williams
Kirk Williams

An avid hiker and nature writer with over a decade of experience exploring remote trails and sharing insights on sustainable outdoor practices.