Discover the Sunday Division Squad Boasting Nearly Two Thousand Premier League Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for the team Vets during a 6-2 triumph against their opponents on 19 October (from left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you boost a stellar experienced side that have won back-to-back championships, featuring a league-cup double with 30 wins from 32 matches?

Sign a group of former professionals who have played at the top level of club and international soccer as you pursue further honors.

A Greater Manchester club fields an non-professional veterans squad with 9 former top-flight players in their present lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Appearances

The team Vets Over 35s are based in south the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Top Tier.

The lineup this campaign features nine former Premier League footballers, with a total nearly 1,800 Premier League appearances.

This elite roster also includes over 220 top division scores and over 320 global caps.

They feature one forward, who notched 37 scores in 117 games for Newcastle United after joining them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home game versus reigning title holders their rivals and scored every one of the six goals in a 6-2 victory - including a half-hour opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's roster for this campaign also includes former pros such as England and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the former Premier League players have won 15 significant trophies and transferred for combined transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Well-Known Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned 6 Republic of Ireland caps, netting four scores

Ireland started turning out for the side during preseason this summer through good mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then asked additional ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek small-sided game, to participate.

Ex- Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 goals in sixty-five Premier League matches for Everton and even now goes to their home games, also made his first appearance versus the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

"A friend Stephen Ireland told me 'join and have a game, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

"After that he told me we were playing a team from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Everton kits - I say this is wrong for me!

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

"The fans who come and see are happy and to make a day if they watch us playing there and to pose us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us having somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

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

"That's a bit unusual but then, I enjoy sprinting and just go forward - I'm not defending that much," he added.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa is playing for the team

Unreal Feeling

In addition to Cisse's six scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has netted eight in three appearances for Wythenshawe, while Boyd hit 5 on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, notched a triple in one game up front.

The team are leading of the Top Division with 3 wins from three and a GD of +19.

Paul Barrow, 38, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Wigan full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young son who Emile Heskey was.

He has appeared at 2 global tournaments for his country, in addition to playing in over 200 top-flight games.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had all these ex-Premier League players," said the player.

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

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

"Our side competed well for a solid 20 mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was hard.

"Our group literally have not stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mother and brother on the journey home.

"The opponents were all dead sound, shaking our hands after the game - it was like facing a bunch of normal guys.

"Now we are eager for the second fixture."

'We'll Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition vets team, who won the Top Tier title the previous campaign, along with his co-manager.

"We went 1-0 up and had a

Heather Kelley
Heather Kelley

A seasoned gambling analyst with over a decade of experience in reviewing online casinos and developing betting strategies.