Introduce this Sunday League Squad Featuring Nearly Two Thousand Top-Flight Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for the team Veterans in a 6-2 win against their opponents on 19 October (from left to right) - one player, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you boost a stellar veteran side that have secured back-to-back championships, featuring a double triumph with 30 wins from thirty-two games?

Bring in a collection of ex- pro players who have played at the top level of club football and global football as you pursue further silverware.

A Greater Manchester team boasts an non-professional vets squad with nine former Premier League footballers in their present squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Appearances

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

Their squad list this season boasts 9 former top-flight players, with a total 1,801 elite games.

The high-profile squad also contains over 220 Premier League scores and 325 international caps.

They feature one forward, who notched 37 scores in 117 appearances for his former club after signing for them for nine million pounds from German league side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

He had his debut for the team in their most recent home match against defending champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six goals in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's roster for this season also features ex- pros such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight footballers have secured fifteen major honors and moved for total transfer fees of about £123 million.

Famous Names and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Irish appearances, netting 4 goals

Stephen Ireland started playing for the side in pre-season this season through close mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Irish player then asked additional ex-pros, who all play in a weekly small-sided match, to participate.

Former Senegalese striker Niasse, who scored twelve scores in 65 Premier League matches for the Toffees and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"My mate Stephen told me 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," commented Niasse.

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

"When you still love football and you know you can still play, wherever you can play, what are you going to do?

"The fans who come and see are happy and to give a day if they watch us playing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

So great is the strength in depth at the club, he made his debut at full-back.

"It's a bit different but then, I love running and just go forward - I'm not defending that much," he said.

"I warn my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to continue attacking.

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

Dreamlike' Experience

Along with the forward's six scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has scored 8 in 3 games for the side, while George Boyd hit five on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, notched a triple in one match as a striker.

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

One opponent, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, 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 Honduras, in as well as playing in more than 200 Premier League matches.

"It was going round like a rumor they had these former top-flight players," said Barrow.

"I felt I was a little awestruck facing him to be honest.

"Even Heskey got on and he's got 60-odd English caps.

"We competed well for a solid twenty minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

"Our group literally have not ceased talking about it - I was phoning my mother and brother on the journey home.

"They were all dead sound, shaking our hands after the match - it was like facing a bunch of regular fellas.

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

We Will Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition veterans team, who won the Top Tier title last season, along with his co-manager.

"Our team scored one-nil ahead and had a

Keith Wallace
Keith Wallace

Tech journalist and digital lifestyle expert with over a decade of experience covering consumer electronics and emerging technologies.