Discover this Sunday League Team With 1,800 Premier League Appearances

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

How do you boost a outstanding experienced side who have won consecutive titles, including a double triumph boasting thirty wins from thirty-two games?

Recruit a collection of ex- professionals who have competed at the highest level of club and global soccer as you aim for additional silverware.

A Manchester club has an non-professional vets squad with nine former top-flight players in their active squad.

222 Top Division Goals, 325 Global Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are located in southern Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Premier Division.

The roster this season features 9 ex- Premier League footballers, with a combined over 1,800 top-flight matches.

This star-studded roster also contains over 220 Premier League scores and 325 global appearances.

They include Papiss Cisse, who netted thirty-seven goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga side Freiburg in 2012.

He had his debut for the team in their last home game versus reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six goals in a 6-2 win - featuring a half-hour opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this season also features former professionals such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- Premier League footballers have secured 15 big honors and transferred for total transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Household Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Republic of Ireland caps, netting four scores

Ireland began playing for the side during preseason this season through good friend and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the former Irish midfielder then asked additional former professionals, who all play in a weekly small-sided match, to join in.

Former Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse, who scored 12 scores in 65 top-flight games for Everton and still goes to their home games, also made his first appearance against the opposition - who are based in the city and use an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"A friend Stephen Ireland told me 'come and have a game, it's enjoyable'," said the striker.

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

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

"The people who come and watch are happy and to give a moment if they see us competing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the pleasure of us getting a place we can play, with organisation of course."

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

"It's a little different but then, I enjoy running and just move inside - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

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

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

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

Unreal Scenario

In addition to the forward's six goals on debut, Ireland has netted eight in three appearances for the side, while Boyd hit 5 on his debut match and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a hat-trick in one match up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Premier Division with 3 wins from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for the opposition, came up against ex- Wigan full-back Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

He has appeared at 2 global tournaments for his country, in addition to featuring in more than 200 top-flight games.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had all these ex-Premier League stars," said Barrow.

"I think I was a bit starstruck facing him to be honest.

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

"We held our own for a good twenty minutes but then we had a player dismissed and it was tough.

"Our group literally haven't stopped talking about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the journey home.

"They were all friendly, shaking our hands after the game - it was like playing a group of regular fellas.

"Now we are eager for the second match."

'We'll Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate veterans side, who won the Top Division title last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"We scored one-nil ahead and had a

Mark Mccoy
Mark Mccoy

A seasoned gaming analyst and writer specializing in Canadian online casinos and sports betting trends.