Meet the Sunday Division Club Boasting Over 1,800 English Top Division Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for the team Vets during a six-two triumph against their opponents on 19 October (from left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you improve a stellar experienced team who have claimed consecutive titles, including a league-cup double boasting 30 wins from thirty-two games?

Recruit a collection of ex- professionals who have competed at the top level of club and international soccer as you aim for more silverware.

A Greater Manchester team boasts an amateur veterans team with nine former top-flight footballers in their active lineup.

222 Top Division Scores, 325 International Appearances

The team Vets Over 35s are situated in southern the city and play in the Cheshire-based Vets League Top Tier.

The squad list this season boasts nine former top-flight footballers, with a total 1,801 Premier League appearances.

This elite squad also contains over 220 top division goals and over 320 international caps.

The squad feature one forward, who netted 37 goals in over 100 appearances for his former club after moving to them for £9m from German league club Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his debut for the team in their most recent home-field game against defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six scores in a 6-2 win - featuring a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's team for this season also includes ex- pros such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- Premier League players have won fifteen big trophies and transferred for combined transfer fees of about £123 million.

Household Names and International Stars

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

Ireland began playing for the side in pre-season this summer through good mate and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited additional former professionals, who all compete in a midweek small-sided match, to participate.

Former Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse, who netted twelve goals in 65 Premier League matches for the Toffees and even now attends their home games, also had his first appearance versus the opposition - who are located in the city and use an Blue warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"My friend Stephen Ireland said 'come and play, it's good fun'," said the striker.

"After that he told me we were playing a team from Liverpool and the shock I had when I noticed them wearing Everton kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

"If you still love the game and you feel you can still play, anywhere you can play, what are you going to choose?

"Those fans who come and see are pleased and to make a day if they watch us competing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the joy of us getting somewhere we can play, with organisation of course."

So great is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse had his debut at defender.

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

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

"The movement is what I'm seeking. It's good fun."

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

'Surreal Scenario

In addition to the forward's six goals on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in 3 appearances for the side, while George Boyd scored five on his first match and Lescott, a defender by position, notched a triple in one match as a striker.

The team are top of the Premier Tier with 3 victories from 3 and a GD of +19.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for the opposition, faced ex- Latics defender Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young boy who Heskey was.

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

"It was spreading like wildfire they had these former top-flight stars," said the player.

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

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

"We held our own for a solid twenty minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was hard.

"We really have not stopped talking about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the journey home.

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

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

'We'll Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate vets side, who won the Premier Tier championship last season, together with his co-manager.

"We scored 1-0 up and had a

Mallory Reyes
Mallory Reyes

Lena is a gaming industry analyst with over a decade of experience covering slot machines and casino innovations across Europe.

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