Meet the Sunday Division Team With Over 1,800 English Top Division Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Vets in a 6-2 win against their opponents on 19 October (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you improve a excellent experienced squad who have secured consecutive championships, including a double triumph boasting thirty victories from 32 games?

Recruit a group of ex- pro players who have performed at the highest level of club football and international soccer as you aim for more honors.

A Greater Manchester team boasts an amateur vets team with 9 ex- Premier League players in their present roster.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are situated in southern the city and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Premier Tier.

The squad list this campaign features nine ex- Premier League footballers, with a total nearly 1,800 elite matches.

This high-profile team also boasts over 220 top division goals and over 320 international appearances.

They include Papiss Cisse, who scored thirty-seven scores in over 100 games for his former club after joining them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse made his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home match against reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six scores in a six-two win - featuring a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

The team for this campaign also features ex- pros such as England and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- Premier League footballers have secured 15 major trophies and moved for total transfer fees of approximately £123 million.

Household Figures and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Irish caps, netting 4 scores

Ireland started turning out for the side during preseason this season through close mate and present team player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited additional ex-pros, who all play in a weekly small-sided match, to join in.

Former Senegalese forward Niasse, who netted 12 goals in 65 Premier League matches for the Toffees and still attends their home games, also had his debut versus the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and use an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

"A mate Stephen Ireland said 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

"Then he told me we were playing a team from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Blue shirts - I thought this is strange for me!

"When you still love football and you know you can still do it, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

"Those fans who turn up and see are happy and to give someone's moment if they watch us competing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the joy of us getting a place we can play, with organisation of course."

Such is the bench strength at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his debut at full-back.

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

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

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

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

Dreamlike' Experience

In addition to Cisse's 6 goals on his first game, Ireland has netted 8 in 3 appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit 5 on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, notched a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

The team are top of the Top Division with 3 victories from 3 and a goal difference of +19.

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, faced former Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two global tournaments for his country, in as well as featuring in over 200 Premier League matches.

"It was going round like wildfire they had all these ex-Premier League players," remarked Barrow.

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

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

"We competed well for a good 20 minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

"Our group really have not ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the journey home.

"The opponents were all friendly, shaking our hands after the game - it was like playing a group of normal guys.

"Now we are eager for the return match."

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition vets team, who secured the Premier Tier championship last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went 1-0 ahead and had a

Robert Bowen
Robert Bowen

Eleanor Vance is a seasoned HR consultant with over 15 years of experience in talent acquisition and organizational development across various industries.