Discover the Sunday Division Team With 1,800 Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for the team Vets in a six-two 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

What do you enhance a outstanding veteran team that have secured consecutive titles, featuring a league-cup double with thirty victories from thirty-two matches?

Sign a group of ex- professionals that have played at the highest level of club football and international soccer as you aim for further honors.

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

222 Top Division Scores, 325 International Caps

The team Veterans Over 35s are located in southern the city and compete in the Cheshire Veterans Division Premier Tier.

The lineup this season boasts 9 ex- Premier League players, with a combined nearly 1,800 Premier League games.

The star-studded squad also boasts over 220 Premier League goals and over 320 global caps.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who netted thirty-seven scores in over 100 games for his former club after joining them for £9m from German league club SC Freiburg in 2012.

He had his first appearance for the team in their most recent home game versus reigning champions their rivals and scored every one of the six goals in a six-two win - featuring a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's squad for this season also features former pros such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- Premier League footballers have won 15 significant honors and transferred for total transfer sums of about £123m.

Well-Known Names and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Republic of Ireland caps, netting four goals

Stephen Ireland began playing for the side during pre-season this season through close mate and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited other former professionals, who all play in a midweek small-sided game, to join in.

Former Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 scores in sixty-five Premier League games for the Toffees and still goes to their home games, also had his first appearance versus the opposition - who are based in the city and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"A friend Stephen Ireland told me 'join and play, it's good fun'," commented the striker.

"After that he informed me we were facing a side from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I noticed them sporting Blue shirts - I thought this is strange for me!

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

"Those fans who come and see are happy and to give a moment if they see us competing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the joy of us getting somewhere we can play, with organisation of course."

So great is the bench strength at Wythenshawe, he made his debut at full-back.

"That's a bit different but then, I enjoy sprinting and just go inside - I'm not staying back that much," he added.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is turning out for the team

Unreal Feeling

Along with the forward's six goals on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in three games for the side, while Boyd scored five on his first appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a triple in one game up front.

The team are top of the Top Tier with three victories from 3 and a GD of +19.

One opponent, 38, who plays on the wing for the opposition, faced ex- Wigan defender Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in addition to playing in over 200 Premier League games.

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

"I felt I was a bit starstruck playing against him to be honest.

"Even Emile [Heskey] came on and he's has over 60 England caps.

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

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

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

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

'We'll Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition veterans side, who secured the Top Tier title the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"We went 1-0 up and had a

Matthew Coleman
Matthew Coleman

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