Meet this Sunday Division Team Boasting Over 1,800 Top-Flight Matches

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

What can you enhance a outstanding experienced squad that have won back-to-back championships, including a double triumph with thirty wins from thirty-two matches?

Recruit a collection of ex- pro players that have competed at the highest level of club football and international football as you target more silverware.

A Greater Manchester club boasts an non-professional vets team with 9 ex- top-flight footballers in their present roster.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Appearances

The team Vets Over-35s are situated in south the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Top Tier.

Their roster this campaign boasts 9 former top-flight players, with a total over 1,800 Premier League matches.

The high-profile roster also includes over 220 top division scores and 325 global caps.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who netted 37 scores in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for nine million pounds from German league side Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home-field game versus defending champions their rivals and netted every one of the six goals in a 6-2 victory - including a 32-minute opening period triple.

The team for this campaign also includes ex- professionals such as English and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- Premier League footballers have claimed fifteen big honors and transferred for total transfer sums of about £123m.

Well-Known Figures and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned 6 Republic of Ireland appearances, netting 4 scores

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the team in pre-season this summer through close friend and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited additional ex-pros, who all compete in a weekly nine-a-side game, to participate.

Former Senegalese forward Niasse, who scored 12 goals in 65 Premier League matches for the Toffees and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also made his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are based in Liverpool and use an Everton warm-up gear as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
He played for Everton from 2016 and 2020

"My friend Stephen Ireland said 'come and have a game, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

"After that he informed me we were playing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Blue kits - I say this is wrong for me!

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

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

Such is the strength in depth at the club, Niasse had his debut at full-back.

"It's a bit unusual but then, I enjoy running and just move inside - I'm not defending that much," he said.

"I warn my centre-back 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to keep running.

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

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

Unreal Scenario

Along with Cisse's 6 goals on debut, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in three games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit five on his first match and Lescott, a defender by position, scored a triple in one game up front.

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

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, came up against ex- Latics defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

He has appeared at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in addition to featuring in over 200 top-flight matches.

"It was going round like wildfire they had all these ex-Premier League players," remarked the player.

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

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

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

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

"The opponents were all really nice, shaking our hands after the match - it was like playing a group of normal fellas.

"Now we are eager for the return fixture."

We Will Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate veterans side, who secured the Premier Division title last season, along with his co-manager.

"Our team scored one-nil up and had a

Patricia Lucero
Patricia Lucero

Elara Vance is a seasoned business strategist with over 15 years of experience in market analysis and corporate consulting, specializing in emerging industries.