Discover this Sunday League Club Boasting Nearly Two Thousand Top-Flight Matches

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

What do you improve a stellar experienced squad who have claimed consecutive championships, featuring a double triumph with 30 wins from thirty-two games?

Sign a raft of ex- pro players that have performed at the highest level of club football and international football as you aim for further honors.

One Greater Manchester club boasts an non-professional vets team with nine former top-flight footballers in their active roster.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Goals, 325 International Appearances

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

Their squad list this season boasts nine former top-flight footballers, with a combined 1,801 elite appearances.

This elite squad also boasts over 220 Premier League scores and over 320 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who netted thirty-seven goals in over 100 games for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his debut for the team in their most recent home match versus reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted all six goals in a six-two win - featuring a 32-minute first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this campaign also includes former pros such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight players have claimed 15 significant honors and transferred for total transfer sums of around £123 million.

Famous Names and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned 6 Irish appearances, scoring 4 scores

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

Ex- Senegal striker Niasse, who netted 12 goals in sixty-five top-flight games for Everton and even now goes to their home games, also had his first appearance against the opposition - who are located in the city and wear an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

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

"Then he informed me we were playing a side from the city and the shock I had when I noticed them sporting Everton kits - I say this is strange for me!

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

"Those fans who turn up and watch are happy and to make someone's moment if they watch us playing there and to ask us queries - it's really about the pleasure of us having a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, he made his debut at defender.

"That's a bit different but then, I enjoy sprinting and just move inside - I'm not defending that much," he added.

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

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

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

Unreal Feeling

Along with Cisse's 6 goals on his first game, Ireland has scored eight in 3 appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit 5 on his first appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

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

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for the opposition, faced former Latics defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his nine-year-old boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at 2 World Cups for Honduras, in as well as playing in over 200 top-flight games.

"The news was going round like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League stars," said the player.

"I think I was a bit starstruck playing against him to be honest.

"Also Heskey got on and he's has 60-odd England appearances.

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

"We really haven't stopped 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 can't wait for the second match."

'We'll Still Take the League'

The manager manages the Collegiate veterans team, who secured the Premier Division title the previous campaign, together with his co-manager.

"We scored 1-0 ahead and had a

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Tyler Willis

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