Introduce the Sunday Division Squad Featuring Over 1,800 English Top Division Games

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

What can you boost a excellent veteran squad who have secured back-to-back titles, featuring a league-cup double boasting thirty wins from thirty-two matches?

Recruit a group of former pro players who have competed at the top level of club football and international soccer as you target further silverware.

A Greater Manchester side has an non-professional veterans squad with 9 ex- top-flight players in their current squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Goals, 325 International Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are located in southern Manchester and play in the Cheshire Vets League Top Division.

Their roster this campaign includes 9 ex- top-flight footballers, with a combined 1,801 Premier League games.

The high-profile squad also boasts over 220 top division scores and 325 international caps.

The squad feature one forward, who netted thirty-seven scores in 117 games for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse had his debut for the team in their most recent home-field match against defending champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six scores in a 6-2 win - featuring a half-hour first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's squad for this campaign also includes former professionals such as English and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight players have secured 15 major trophies and moved for combined transfer sums of around £123 million.

Famous Figures and International Players

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

Ireland began playing for the team in pre-season this season through close friend and current Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited additional ex-pros, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side game, to participate.

Former Senegal forward Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 scores in 65 Premier League matches for the Toffees and even now attends their home games, also made his first appearance against the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and use an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
He played for the club between 2016 and 2020

"A friend Stephen Ireland said 'come and have a game, it's good fun'," said the striker.

"After that he told me we were facing a side from the city and the shock I had when I saw them sporting Everton kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

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

"Those fans who come and see are pleased and to give someone's moment if they watch us playing there and to pose us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, he had his debut at full-back.

"It's a little different but then, I love running and just go forward - I'm not defending that much," he said.

"I warn 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 full-back Maynor Figueroa is playing for the team

'Surreal Scenario

Along with the forward's six scores on his first game, Ireland has scored 8 in three appearances for the side, while Boyd hit 5 on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, notched a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

The team are leading of the Premier Division with three victories from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced former Wigan full-back Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 World Cups for his country, in addition to featuring in more than two hundred Premier League games.

"It was spreading like wildfire they had all these ex-Premier League players," said the player.

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

"Also Emile [Heskey] came on and he's got over 60 England caps.

"Our side competed well for a solid 20 minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

"We really have not ceased talking about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the journey home.

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

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

'We'll Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate veterans team, who secured the Premier Division championship last season, along with his co-manager.

"We scored one-nil ahead and had a

Jeremy Harrison
Jeremy Harrison

A seasoned casino analyst with over a decade of experience in gaming strategies and industry trends.