Meet the Sunday Division Squad With Nearly Two Thousand Premier League Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for Wythenshawe Veterans during a six-two triumph against Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you enhance a outstanding veteran side who have won back-to-back titles, featuring a league-cup double boasting thirty wins from thirty-two matches?

Recruit a collection of ex- professionals that have played at the top level of club and global soccer as you aim for additional silverware.

One Manchester club boasts an non-professional veterans squad with nine ex- Premier League footballers in their active squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Goals, 325 International Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are based in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire Veterans Division Premier Tier.

The roster this campaign includes 9 ex- Premier League players, with a total over 1,800 top-flight matches.

The elite squad also boasts 222 Premier League scores and 325 global caps.

The squad feature one forward, who notched 37 goals in 117 games for his former club after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga side Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his debut for the team in their most recent home match versus reigning title holders their rivals and scored every one of the six scores in a 6-2 win - including a 32-minute opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's squad for this season also includes former professionals such as England and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League footballers have secured 15 major honors and transferred for total transfer fees of approximately £123m.

Famous Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Irish appearances, netting four scores

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the team in preseason this summer through close friend and present team player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then asked other ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side match, to join in.

Former Senegal striker Niasse, who netted 12 scores in 65 Premier League games for the Toffees and still goes to their home games, also had his debut versus the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse played for Everton from 2016 and 2020

"My mate Stephen Ireland told me 'join and play, it's good fun'," commented the striker.

"Then he told me we were facing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Everton kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

"When you still enjoy football and you feel you can still do it, anywhere you can play, what are you going to do?

"The spectators who turn up and see are pleased and to make someone's day if they watch us playing there and to ask us queries - it's really about the joy of us having somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

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

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

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

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

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to Cisse's six goals on debut, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in three games for the side, while Boyd hit 5 on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a hat-trick in one match up front.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Top Division with three victories from 3 and a goal difference of +19.

One opponent, 38, who plays on the flank for the opposition, faced former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his nine-year-old boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to featuring in more than 200 Premier League matches.

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

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

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

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

"Our group literally have not stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the way home.

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

"Now we are eager for the return match."

'We'll Still Win the League'

The manager coaches the Collegiate veterans team, who secured the Top Tier title the previous campaign, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went one-nil up and had a

Michelle Woodard
Michelle Woodard

Elara is a passionate traveler and writer, sharing unique insights from global expeditions to inspire others.