Introduce the Sunday Division Team Featuring Over 1,800 Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for the team Vets during a 6-2 triumph versus their opponents on 19 October (left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you enhance a outstanding experienced side who have won back-to-back titles, including a league-cup double boasting 30 wins from thirty-two games?

Bring in a raft of ex- pro players who have played at the elite tier of club and international football as you aim for further honors.

One Greater Manchester team has an non-professional veterans squad with nine former top-flight players in their present squad.

222 Premier League Scores, 325 International Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are located in south the city and play in the Cheshire-based Vets League Premier Division.

The lineup this season includes 9 ex- Premier League players, with a collective 1,801 Premier League appearances.

The elite team also contains 222 top division goals and 325 global appearances.

They feature Papiss Cisse, who netted 37 scores in over 100 appearances for his former club after signing for them for £9m from German league club SC Freiburg in January 2012.

He made his debut for the team in their most recent home game versus reigning title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six goals in a six-two win - including a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

The team for this season also features former pros such as England and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the former top-flight players have won 15 significant trophies and transferred for total transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Famous Figures and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned 6 Irish appearances, netting 4 goals

Stephen Ireland began playing for the team in preseason this summer through close friend and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then invited other former professionals, who all compete in a weekly nine-a-side match, to participate.

Ex- Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who scored 12 scores in sixty-five Premier League matches for the Toffees and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut against the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Everton training kit as their strip.

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

"A mate Stephen Ireland told me 'join and have a game, it's good fun'," commented the striker.

"After that he told me we were facing a team from the city and the shock I had when I noticed them wearing Everton kits - I say this is wrong for me!

"When you still love the game and you know you can still do it, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"Those fans who turn up and watch are happy and to give someone's day if they see us playing there and to pose us questions - it's really about the joy of us having a place we can play, with structure of course."

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

"It's a bit unusual but then, I love running and just go inside - I'm not defending 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 enjoyable."

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

Dreamlike' Experience

In addition to the forward's 6 scores on his first game, Ireland has scored 8 in 3 games for the side, while George Boyd hit five on his debut match and Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a triple in one game as a striker.

The team are leading of the Premier Division with three wins from three and a goal difference of +19.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against former Wigan defender Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old boy who Emile Heskey was.

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

"The news was going round like wildfire they had these ex-Premier League stars," remarked Barrow.

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

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

"Our side held our own for a good 20 mins but then we had a player sent off and it was hard.

"We really haven't ceased talking about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the way home.

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

"Now we are eager for the return match."

We Will Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate veterans team, who won the Top Division championship the previous campaign, together with his co-manager.

"We went 1-0 ahead and had a

Timothy Green
Timothy Green

A tech enthusiast and software developer with a passion for sharing knowledge and exploring emerging technologies.

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