Discover this Sunday League Club Featuring 1,800 English Top Division Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Veterans in a 6-2 victory against Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (from left to right) - one player, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you enhance a outstanding experienced side who have claimed back-to-back championships, featuring a double triumph boasting thirty wins from 32 games?

Recruit a collection of former professionals who have performed at the highest tier of club and global soccer as you aim for further silverware.

A Manchester side boasts an non-professional veterans team with nine former Premier League players in their current lineup.

222 Top Division Goals, 325 Global Caps

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

The roster this campaign includes nine ex- Premier League footballers, with a collective 1,801 Premier League appearances.

The high-profile squad also includes 222 top division scores and 325 global appearances.

They include Papiss Cisse, who notched thirty-seven scores in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga side Freiburg in January 2012.

He had his debut for the team in their last home-field match against reigning title holders their rivals and scored all six scores in a 6-2 win - including a 32-minute first-half triple.

The team for this season also features ex- professionals such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former top-flight players have won fifteen significant honors and transferred for combined transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Well-Known Names and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won 6 Republic of Ireland caps, scoring 4 goals

Stephen Ireland began playing for the team during pre-season this season through good friend and present team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then invited other former professionals, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side match, to participate.

Former Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who netted twelve goals in sixty-five top-flight matches for Everton and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut versus Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and use an Everton warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

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

"After that he told me we were playing a team from the city and the shock I had when I noticed them wearing Blue shirts - I say this is strange for me!

"If you still enjoy football and you know you can still play, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to do?

"The fans who turn up and watch are pleased and to give a day if they watch us playing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the joy of us getting a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

So great is the bench strength at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his debut at defender.

"That's a little unusual but then, I love sprinting and just go inside - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

"I warn my centre-back 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to continue attacking.

"The movement is what I'm after. It's enjoyable."

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

Dreamlike' Feeling

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

Wythenshawe are leading of the Top Tier with three victories from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for the opposition, came up against former Latics full-back Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 World Cups for his country, in as well as playing in over 200 Premier League games.

"It was going round like wildfire they had all these former top-flight players," said the player.

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

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

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

"We literally have not ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mother and sibling on the way home.

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

"Now we can't wait for the return match."

We Will Still Win the Title'

The manager coaches the opposition veterans team, who won the Premier Tier title last season, along with his co-manager.

"Our team scored one-nil up and had a

Tamara Swanson
Tamara Swanson

Elena Vance is a seasoned financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in investment banking and wealth management, specializing in UK markets.