Meet the Sunday League Squad Boasting Over 1,800 English Top Division Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans in a 6-2 triumph versus their opponents on 19 October (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you improve a stellar experienced squad who have secured back-to-back championships, featuring a league-cup double boasting thirty victories from thirty-two matches?

Sign a collection of former pro players that have performed at the top level of club football and international football as you aim for more trophies.

A Manchester team boasts an non-professional veterans squad with nine ex- top-flight players in their present roster.

222 Top Division Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Caps

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

Their lineup this season features 9 former top-flight footballers, with a total 1,801 Premier League appearances.

This high-profile squad also contains over 220 top division scores and 325 international caps.

They feature Papiss Cisse, who notched thirty-seven goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for £9m from German league side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their most recent home game versus defending title holders their rivals and scored all six scores in a 6-2 victory - including a 32-minute opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this season also includes ex- professionals such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- Premier League players have claimed fifteen big trophies and transferred for combined transfer fees of approximately £123 million.

Well-Known Names and International Stars

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

Ireland started playing for the side during pre-season this season through good mate and current Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited other ex-pros, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side match, to participate.

Ex- Senegal forward Niasse, who scored twelve scores in sixty-five top-flight matches for the Toffees and still attends their home games, also had his debut against the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and use an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

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

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

"Then he informed me we were playing a side from the city and the shock I had when I noticed them wearing Blue kits - I say this is wrong for me!

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

"Those fans who come and watch are happy and to make a day if they watch us competing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us having a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, he made his debut at full-back.

"It's a little different but then, I enjoy sprinting and just go inside - I'm not defending that much," he added.

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

"That movement is what I'm looking for. It's good fun."

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa is playing for the team

Unreal Scenario

In addition to Cisse's six goals on debut, Stephen Ireland has netted eight in 3 appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored 5 on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a triple in one game up front.

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

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the flank for the opposition, faced former Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 World Cups for his country, in addition to featuring in more than two hundred top-flight matches.

"It was going round like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League players," said the player.

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

"Even Heskey came on and he's has 60-odd England appearances.

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

"We literally haven't ceased talking about it - I was calling my mother 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 guys.

"Now we are eager for the second match."

'We'll Still Win the League'

The manager coaches the opposition vets team, who won the Top Division title the previous campaign, together with his co-manager.

"We scored one-nil up and had a

Sean Harvey
Sean Harvey

A seasoned entrepreneur and business consultant with over a decade of experience in helping startups thrive.