Discover this Sunday Division Squad Featuring Over 1,800 English Top Division Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Veterans during a six-two win against Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you improve a stellar experienced squad who have won consecutive titles, featuring a double triumph boasting 30 wins from thirty-two games?

Sign a group of ex- pro players that have played at the highest tier of club and global football as you aim for further silverware.

A Manchester club boasts an non-professional vets squad with nine ex- top-flight players in their current roster.

222 Premier League Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Appearances

The team Veterans Over 35s are situated in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets League Top Tier.

Their squad list this season includes nine ex- top-flight players, with a collective over 1,800 top-flight appearances.

The star-studded roster also boasts over 220 top division scores and 325 international appearances.

The squad feature one forward, who scored thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for his former club after moving to them for £9m from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in January 2012.

He had his debut for the team in their last home-field game versus reigning champions their rivals and scored all six scores in a six-two win - featuring a 32-minute first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's squad for this campaign also features former professionals such as England and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former Premier League footballers have claimed fifteen significant honors and moved for total transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Famous Figures and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned 6 Republic of Ireland appearances, netting four goals

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the side in preseason this season through close mate and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then asked additional ex-pros, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side game, to join in.

Former Senegalese forward Niasse, who netted twelve scores in 65 Premier League matches for the Toffees and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut versus Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
He played for the club from 2016 and 2020

"My mate Stephen Ireland said 'come and have a game, it's a laugh'," said Niasse.

"After that he informed me we were playing a team from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Everton shirts - I thought this is wrong for me!

"If you still enjoy football and you feel you can still play, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

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

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

"That's a bit unusual but then, I enjoy sprinting and just move forward - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

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

"That running is what I'm looking for. It's enjoyable."

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

'Surreal Scenario

Along with Cisse's 6 scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has netted eight in three games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit 5 on his debut appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a hat-trick in one match up front.

The team are leading of the Top Division with 3 victories from three and a GD of +19.

One opponent, 38, who plays on the wing for the opposition, faced ex- Wigan full-back Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two World Cups for his country, in as well as playing in more than 200 Premier League matches.

"It was going round like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League stars," remarked Barrow.

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

"Even Heskey came on and he's got 60-odd England appearances.

"We held our own for a good 20 minutes but then we had a player dismissed and it was hard.

"Our group really have not ceased chatting about it - I was calling my mother and sibling on the journey home.

"They were all dead sound, shaking our hands after the match - it was like facing a group of regular guys.

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

We Will Still Take the League'

The manager manages the opposition veterans side, who secured the Top Division championship the previous campaign, along with his co-manager.

"Our team went 1-0 ahead and had a

Leonard Sanchez
Leonard Sanchez

A digital strategist with over a decade of experience in crafting engaging online experiences and driving brand growth through creative solutions.