Discover this Sunday Division Team Boasting Nearly Two Thousand English Top Division Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for the team Vets during a six-two victory versus their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you boost a excellent experienced team that have won back-to-back championships, including a double triumph boasting thirty victories from 32 games?

Bring in a collection of former professionals who have performed at the top tier of club and international football as you pursue further silverware.

One Manchester club fields an non-professional vets team with 9 ex- top-flight players in their active lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are based in south Manchester and compete in the Cheshire Vets League Top Tier.

The squad list this campaign boasts nine former top-flight footballers, with a combined over 1,800 elite games.

This elite roster also contains over 220 Premier League goals and 325 global appearances.

They feature Papiss Cisse, who scored thirty-seven goals in 117 games for Newcastle United after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home match versus defending champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted all six scores in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

The roster for this season also includes former pros such as England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former top-flight players have secured 15 significant honors and transferred for total transfer fees of approximately £123 million.

Famous Names and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He won 6 Irish caps, netting four scores

Ireland began playing for the side in pre-season this season through close mate and current Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then asked additional former professionals, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side match, to participate.

Former Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve scores in sixty-five top-flight games for Everton and even now attends their home games, also made his debut against the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

"A friend Stephen Ireland told me 'join and play, it's a laugh'," commented Niasse.

"After that he informed me we were facing a team from the city and the shock I had when I noticed them sporting Everton shirts - I say this is wrong for me!

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

"The people who turn up and see are happy and to make someone's day if they watch us playing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the joy of us getting a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

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

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

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

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

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

Along with Cisse's 6 scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in three appearances for the side, while Boyd scored five on his first match and Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a triple in one match as a striker.

The team are leading of the Premier Division with three victories from three and a GD of +19.

Paul Barrow, 38, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against former Latics full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young son who Heskey was.

He has appeared at two global tournaments for Honduras, in as well as playing in more than 200 Premier League games.

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

"I think I was a little starstruck playing against him to be honest.

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

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

"We literally haven't ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the way home.

"The opponents were all really nice, shaking our hands after the game - it was like facing a bunch of regular guys.

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

'We'll Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate veterans team, who secured the Top Tier championship the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"We went one-nil up and had a

Mrs. Donna Mccoy
Mrs. Donna Mccoy

A political journalist with over a decade of experience covering U.S. and global affairs, focusing on policy analysis and investigative reporting.