Discover the Sunday League Squad With Over 1,800 Top-Flight Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Vets in a 6-2 victory versus their opponents on October 19th (left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you improve a stellar experienced team that have secured back-to-back titles, including a league-cup double boasting 30 wins from thirty-two games?

Bring in a collection of former pro players that have played at the highest level of club and global football as you target further silverware.

A Greater Manchester side fields an amateur veterans team with nine ex- top-flight footballers in their current lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, 325 International Caps

The team Veterans Over-35s are based in south the city and play in the Cheshire-based Vets League Top Tier.

The squad list this season boasts nine ex- Premier League footballers, with a combined nearly 1,800 top-flight games.

This star-studded team also contains 222 Premier League scores and over 320 international appearances.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who netted thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his debut for the team in their most recent home-field game versus reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six scores in a 6-2 victory - featuring a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's roster for this campaign also features ex- professionals such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- top-flight players have secured fifteen significant honors and moved for total transfer sums of about £123 million.

Well-Known Figures and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned 6 Irish caps, scoring 4 scores

Ireland began playing for the team during preseason this summer through close mate and present team player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland midfielder then asked other ex-pros, who all compete in a weekly nine-a-side match, to participate.

Ex- Senegal forward Niasse, who scored twelve scores in 65 Premier League games for Everton and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut versus the opposition - who are based in the city and use an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"A mate Stephen told me 'join and have a game, it's good fun'," said the striker.

"Then he informed me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Everton shirts - I say this is strange for me!

"When you still love football and you know you can still play, wherever you can play, what are you going to choose?

"The spectators who turn up and see are pleased and to make a moment if they see us playing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the pleasure of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the strength in depth at the club, he made his debut at defender.

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

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

"That running is what I'm looking for. It's enjoyable."

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

Dreamlike' Experience

In addition to the forward's six goals on his first game, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in three games for the side, while George Boyd scored five on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, scored a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

The team are leading of the Top Division with 3 wins from three and a GD of +19.

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

He has played at two World Cups for Honduras, in addition to playing in over 200 Premier League matches.

"The news was going round like a rumor they had all these ex-Premier League stars," said Barrow.

"I felt I was a little starstruck facing him to be honest.

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

"We competed well for a good 20 minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was hard.

"Our group literally haven't stopped chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and sibling on the way home.

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

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

We Will Still Win the League'

The manager manages the opposition veterans side, who won the Premier Tier championship last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"We scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Katelyn Baker
Katelyn Baker

A seasoned journalist with a passion for uncovering stories that matter, blending investigative reporting with engaging narratives.