Introduce the Sunday Division Squad With 1,800 Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans during a six-two victory against their opponents 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 excellent veteran team that have secured back-to-back championships, featuring a league-cup double boasting 30 victories from thirty-two matches?

Sign a raft of former pro players that have performed at the top level of club football and global soccer as you target more silverware.

A Greater Manchester team boasts an amateur veterans squad with nine ex- top-flight players in their present roster.

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

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are located in south Manchester and compete in the Cheshire Vets Division Top Division.

Their squad list this season features 9 ex- top-flight footballers, with a combined 1,801 Premier League matches.

This elite team also includes 222 Premier League scores and over 320 global appearances.

They feature Papiss Cisse, who netted 37 scores in over 100 games for Newcastle United after moving to them for £9m from German league side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home-field match against reigning title holders Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six goals in a 6-2 win - including a half-hour opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's roster for this season also features ex- pros such as English and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight players have claimed fifteen major trophies and transferred for total transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Famous Names and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He won six Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring 4 goals

Ireland started turning out for the team during pre-season this summer through close mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then asked additional former professionals, who all compete in a weekly small-sided game, to participate.

Former Senegalese striker Niasse, who scored 12 scores in 65 Premier League games for Everton and still goes to their home games, also had his debut versus Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and use an Everton training kit as their strip.

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

"My friend Stephen told me 'join and play, it's a laugh'," said the striker.

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

"If you still enjoy the game and you feel you can still play, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"The people who come and watch are happy and to give someone's moment if they watch us playing there and to pose us questions - it's really about the joy of us getting somewhere we can play, with organisation of course."

Such is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his debut at defender.

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

"I tell my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to continue attacking.

"That running is what I'm seeking. It's good fun."

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

'Surreal Scenario

Along with the forward's six scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in three games for the side, while Boyd hit five on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, notched a hat-trick in one game up front.

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

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

Figueroa has played at 2 global tournaments for Honduras, in as well as playing in more than two hundred Premier League games.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had these former top-flight stars," said Barrow.

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

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

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

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

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

"Now we are eager for the second fixture."

'We'll Still Win the League'

The manager coaches the opposition veterans side, who secured the Top Tier championship last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went 1-0 ahead and had a

Alyssa Prince
Alyssa Prince

A passionate gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering UK and international gaming trends.

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