Introduce this Sunday Division Squad With Over 1,800 Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans during a six-two triumph versus their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you improve a excellent veteran side who have won back-to-back championships, including a double triumph boasting 30 victories from 32 games?

Recruit a group of ex- pro players who have played at the top tier of club and global soccer as you pursue additional trophies.

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

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

The team Vets Over 35s are located in southern Manchester and play in the Cheshire Vets Division Premier Division.

The lineup this season features 9 former top-flight players, with a total over 1,800 elite games.

This high-profile squad also boasts 222 Premier League goals and over 320 global appearances.

The squad include one forward, who netted thirty-seven goals in over 100 games for Newcastle United after moving to them for nine million pounds from German league club Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his first appearance for the team in their most recent home-field match versus defending champions their rivals and netted all six scores in a six-two win - including a half-hour opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's squad for this campaign also features former pros such as England and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former top-flight footballers have won fifteen major honors and transferred for combined transfer fees of about £123m.

Household Figures and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned six Irish caps, netting 4 scores

Ireland began turning out for the side in preseason this summer through good mate and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the former Irish midfielder then invited other ex-pros, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side match, to participate.

Former Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 scores in sixty-five Premier League games for the Toffees and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut against the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and use an Blue training kit as their strip.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
He featured for Everton between 2016 and 2020

"My friend Stephen Ireland said 'come and play, it's a laugh'," commented Niasse.

"Then he informed me we were playing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Blue kits - I thought this is strange for me!

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

"Those spectators who turn up and see are pleased and to make someone's moment if they watch us playing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the joy of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the squad depth at the club, he had his first game at defender.

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

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

"The movement is what I'm after. It's enjoyable."

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is turning out for Wythenshawe

'Surreal Experience

In addition to Cisse's 6 goals on debut, Ireland has scored eight in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored 5 on his first appearance and Lescott, a defender by position, scored a triple in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Top Tier with three victories from 3 and a GD of +19.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for the opposition, faced former Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

He has appeared at two World Cups for his country, in as well as featuring in more than two hundred top-flight matches.

"The news was going round like a rumor they had these former top-flight players," said the player.

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

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

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

"We literally haven't ceased chatting about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the way home.

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

"Now we are eager for the second fixture."

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate vets side, who won the Premier Division championship the previous campaign, along with his co-manager.

"We scored 1-0 up and had a

Katherine Spencer
Katherine Spencer

Professional online gaming analyst with 10 years of experience in the industry.