Discover this Sunday League Club Boasting 1,800 Premier League Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for Wythenshawe Vets during a 6-2 triumph versus their opponents on 19 October (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you boost a stellar experienced side who have secured consecutive titles, including a double triumph boasting thirty wins from 32 matches?

Sign a raft of ex- pro players who have played at the highest level of club football and international soccer as you pursue more silverware.

One Manchester side has an non-professional vets squad with nine ex- top-flight players in their active roster.

222 Premier League Goals, 325 Global Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are situated in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire Veterans Division Top Tier.

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

This star-studded roster also includes 222 Premier League scores and over 320 global caps.

They include Papiss Cisse, who scored 37 scores in 117 games for Newcastle United after moving to them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home game against reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six scores in a 6-2 win - including a 32-minute first-half triple.

The roster for this season also features ex- professionals such as England and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight players have won 15 significant honors and moved for total transfer sums of about £123m.

Well-Known Names and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He won six Irish appearances, netting 4 scores

Stephen Ireland began playing for the side during preseason this season through close mate and current Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the former Irish midfielder then asked other former professionals, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side match, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who netted twelve goals in 65 Premier League games for the Toffees and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut against Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and use an Everton warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"A mate Stephen said 'join and play, it's enjoyable'," said the striker.

"After that he told me we were facing a side from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Everton kits - I say this is strange for me!

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

"Those people who turn up and see are pleased and to give someone's moment if they watch us competing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us having a place we can play, with organisation of course."

Such is the bench strength at the club, he had his debut at full-back.

"It's a bit unusual but then, I enjoy sprinting and just go forward - I'm not defending that much," he said.

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

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

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

Unreal Feeling

In addition to the forward's six goals on his first game, Ireland has netted eight in 3 appearances for the side, while George Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a hat-trick in one match up front.

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

One opponent, 38, who plays on the wing for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two global tournaments for his country, in as well as playing in more than 200 top-flight games.

"It was spreading like wildfire they had these former top-flight players," said Barrow.

"I felt I was a bit awestruck playing against Figueroa to be honest.

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

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

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

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

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

'We'll Still Take the Title'

The manager coaches the Collegiate vets side, who secured the Premier Tier title last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"We scored one-nil up and had a

Debra Lee
Debra Lee

Urban planner and sustainability advocate with over a decade of experience in city development projects across North America.