Discover the Sunday League Squad Boasting 1,800 Premier League Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans in a six-two triumph versus Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (from left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you improve a stellar veteran side who have secured consecutive championships, including a league-cup double boasting thirty victories from thirty-two matches?

Bring in a collection of former pro players who have competed at the top tier of club football and international football as you aim for further honors.

One Manchester team fields an amateur vets squad with nine ex- Premier League players in their present roster.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Caps

The team Veterans Over-35s are situated in southern the city and compete in the Cheshire Vets Division Top Division.

Their lineup this season boasts 9 former top-flight players, with a collective over 1,800 Premier League games.

This high-profile squad also includes 222 Premier League goals and 325 international caps.

The squad feature one forward, who scored thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their last home game versus reigning champions their rivals and scored every one of the six scores in a six-two victory - including a half-hour opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's roster for this campaign also features ex- pros such as England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the former Premier League players have claimed fifteen significant trophies and moved for combined transfer fees of around £123m.

Well-Known Figures and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned 6 Republic of Ireland caps, scoring 4 scores

Stephen Ireland began playing for the side during preseason this season through good friend and current Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the former Irish player then invited additional ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek small-sided match, to join in.

Ex- Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve goals in 65 Premier League games for Everton and still attends their home games, also made his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are based in Liverpool and use an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

"My mate Stephen Ireland said 'come and play, it's good fun'," said Niasse.

"Then he told me we were playing a side from the city and the shock I had when I noticed them sporting Everton shirts - I thought this is wrong for me!

"If you still love football and you know you can still play, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"Those people who come and see are pleased and to give someone's day if they watch us playing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the joy of us having a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

So great is the bench strength at the club, he made his first game at full-back.

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

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

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

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

Dreamlike' Feeling

Along with the forward's 6 scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in 3 games for the side, while Boyd scored five on his debut appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a triple in one game up front.

The team are leading of the Top Division with 3 wins from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for Collegiate OB, faced former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 World Cups for his country, in addition to playing in over two hundred top-flight matches.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had these former top-flight stars," remarked Barrow.

"I felt I was a bit awestruck facing him to be honest.

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

"Our side held our own for a good 20 minutes but then we had a player dismissed and it was tough.

"Our group really haven't stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the journey home.

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

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

We Will Still Take the Title'

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

"Our team scored one-nil ahead and had a

Nicholas Lynch
Nicholas Lynch

Elara is a wellness coach and writer passionate about holistic health and mindfulness practices.