Discover this Sunday Division Team Boasting 1,800 English Top Division Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for Wythenshawe Vets during a six-two victory against Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you boost a outstanding veteran squad who have won consecutive championships, including a league-cup double with 30 victories from 32 matches?

Recruit a raft of ex- professionals who have competed at the highest tier of club football and international football as you target additional trophies.

A Greater Manchester club boasts an non-professional vets team with 9 former Premier League footballers in their present lineup.

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

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are located in southern the city and play in the Cheshire Veterans Division Premier Tier.

Their lineup this campaign boasts nine ex- top-flight footballers, with a collective nearly 1,800 elite matches.

This elite squad also includes 222 Premier League scores and 325 international appearances.

They include one forward, who netted thirty-seven goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after joining them for £9m from German league side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their last 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.

The squad for this season also includes ex- professionals such as English and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- Premier League players have secured fifteen big honors and moved for combined transfer sums of about £123m.

Well-Known Figures and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won 6 Irish appearances, scoring 4 scores

Ireland began playing for the side during pre-season this summer through good mate and present team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then asked additional former professionals, who all compete in a weekly small-sided match, to participate.

Former Senegalese striker Niasse, who netted twelve goals in 65 top-flight matches for Everton and even now attends their home games, also had his first appearance against the opposition - who are located in the city and wear an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

"My mate Stephen Ireland told me 'come and play, it's a laugh'," commented Niasse.

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

"If you still love the game and you know you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to choose?

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

So great is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, he made his debut at full-back.

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

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

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

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to the forward's 6 scores on debut, Ireland has scored 8 in three games for the side, while Boyd hit five on his first appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a triple in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Tier with three victories from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

One opponent, 38, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against ex- Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in as well as playing in over 200 top-flight matches.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had these former top-flight players," said Barrow.

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

"Even Heskey got on and he's got over 60 English caps.

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

"We literally have not ceased talking about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the way home.

"They were all really nice, shaking our hands after the match - it was like playing a bunch of regular guys.

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

We Will Still Win the Title'

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

"Our team went one-nil ahead and had a

Sheila Sexton
Sheila Sexton

A seasoned business strategist with over 15 years of experience in technology consulting and corporate development across European markets.