Introduce this Sunday League Team With Over 1,800 English Top Division Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for the team Veterans during a 6-2 victory versus Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you enhance a outstanding experienced team who have won consecutive championships, featuring a double triumph boasting 30 wins from thirty-two matches?

Bring in a collection of ex- pro players that have performed at the top level of club and global football as you pursue more trophies.

A Manchester team has an non-professional veterans squad with 9 ex- top-flight players in their present lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Scores, 325 International Appearances

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

Their lineup this campaign boasts 9 former top-flight footballers, with a total nearly 1,800 elite games.

This elite team also boasts 222 Premier League goals and 325 international caps.

They feature Papiss Cisse, who notched thirty-seven goals in 117 games for his former club after joining them for nine million pounds from German league club Freiburg in 2012.

He had his debut for the team in their most recent home match against reigning title holders their rivals and scored every one of the six goals in a six-two victory - featuring a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

The squad for this season also features ex- pros such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League players have claimed 15 big trophies and transferred for total transfer fees of approximately £123 million.

Household Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won 6 Irish appearances, scoring four goals

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the team in pre-season this season through good mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then asked other former professionals, who all play in a midweek small-sided match, to participate.

Former Senegal forward Niasse, who scored 12 scores in 65 Premier League games for Everton and even now goes to their home games, also had his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are based in Liverpool and use an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"My mate Stephen told me 'come and play, it's good fun'," commented Niasse.

"After that he told me we were facing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Blue shirts - I say this is wrong for me!

"When you still enjoy football and you know you can still play, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to do?

"The people who turn up and see are happy and to make a moment if they watch us playing there and to ask us queries - it's really about the joy of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

So great is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, he had his first game at defender.

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

"I tell my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to continue running.

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

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

'Surreal Feeling

In addition to the forward's 6 scores on his first game, Ireland has scored eight in 3 appearances for the side, while George Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a hat-trick in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Premier Division with three victories from 3 and a GD of +19.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against former Wigan defender Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young boy who Heskey was.

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

"The news was going round like wildfire they had these ex-Premier League players," said Barrow.

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

"Also Emile [Heskey] came on and he's has 60-odd English appearances.

"Our side competed well for a solid twenty minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was hard.

"We literally have not stopped talking about it - I was calling my mother and sibling on the journey home.

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

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

We Will Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition vets team, who won the Top Tier title the previous campaign, together with Paul Maguire.

"We scored one-nil up and had a

Nina Rodriguez
Nina Rodriguez

A passionate writer and mindfulness coach dedicated to sharing insights on personal growth and holistic wellness.