Meet the Sunday Division Squad Featuring Nearly Two Thousand English Top Division Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for the team Vets in a six-two win against their opponents on 19 October (left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you improve a outstanding experienced squad that have secured consecutive championships, featuring a league-cup double boasting 30 victories from 32 matches?

Sign a raft of former professionals who have played at the top level of club football and international football as you aim for additional silverware.

One Manchester club boasts an non-professional vets team with nine former Premier League footballers in their current roster.

222 Top Division Goals, 325 International Appearances

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

The lineup this campaign features nine former top-flight footballers, with a combined over 1,800 elite games.

This high-profile roster also boasts over 220 Premier League goals and over 320 international caps.

They include Papiss Cisse, who netted 37 goals in over 100 games for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from German league club SC Freiburg in 2012.

He had his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home-field game versus defending champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted all six scores in a 6-2 win - including a 32-minute opening period triple.

The team for this campaign also includes ex- professionals such as England and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former top-flight players have claimed 15 significant trophies and transferred for combined transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Household Figures and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He won 6 Irish appearances, scoring 4 goals

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the side during pre-season this season through good mate and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then asked additional former professionals, who all compete in a weekly small-sided match, to join in.

Former Senegal forward Niasse, who scored twelve scores in 65 Premier League matches for the Toffees and still attends their home games, also made his first appearance against the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and use an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"My mate Stephen Ireland said 'come and play, it's a laugh'," said the striker.

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

"If you still love the game and you know you can still play, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to do?

"Those fans who come and watch are happy and to give someone's moment if they see us competing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us having a place we can play, with organisation of course."

So great is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his first game at defender.

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

"I warn my defender 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to continue running.

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

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

'Surreal Feeling

Along with Cisse's six scores on his first game, Ireland has netted 8 in three appearances for the side, while George Boyd scored five on his debut match and Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Division with three wins from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

One opponent, 38, who features on the wing for the opposition, came up against ex- Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two World Cups for his country, in addition to playing in over 200 Premier League matches.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had all these former top-flight players," remarked the player.

"I think I was a bit starstruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

"Also Emile [Heskey] got on and he's got 60-odd English appearances.

"Our side held our own for a solid 20 minutes but then we had a player dismissed and it was hard.

"Our group literally haven't ceased talking about it - I was calling my mother and brother on the way home.

"They were all friendly, shaking our hands after the match - it was like playing a group of regular fellas.

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

We Will Still Win the Title'

The manager manages the Collegiate vets side, who won the Premier Division championship the previous campaign, together with his co-manager.

"We went 1-0 up and had a

Belinda Gonzalez
Belinda Gonzalez

A passionate writer and life coach dedicated to sharing transformative experiences and empowering others through storytelling.