Discover the Sunday League Team Boasting 1,800 Top-Flight Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans in a 6-2 victory against Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you boost a outstanding veteran squad who have won consecutive titles, including a double triumph boasting thirty wins from 32 games?

Bring in a group of former pro players that have performed at the highest level of club and global soccer as you pursue further honors.

A Greater Manchester team boasts an non-professional veterans team with nine ex- Premier League players in their active roster.

222 Top Division Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are based in south the city and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Top Division.

The lineup this campaign boasts 9 former top-flight players, with a combined 1,801 elite games.

The high-profile roster also boasts 222 Premier League scores and over 320 international appearances.

They include one forward, who notched 37 goals in over 100 games for Newcastle United after joining them for £9m from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their most recent home match versus reigning champions their rivals and scored every one of the six scores in a six-two victory - featuring a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

The squad for this campaign also features ex- pros such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- Premier League players have won 15 big trophies and transferred for combined transfer sums of around £123 million.

Household Figures and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won 6 Irish caps, netting four goals

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the team in preseason this season through good friend and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited other ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek small-sided game, to participate.

Former Senegalese striker Niasse, who scored 12 goals in 65 top-flight matches for the Toffees and even now attends their home games, also made his debut versus the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
He played for Everton from 2016 and 2020

"My mate Stephen Ireland told me 'come and have a game, it's a laugh'," said Niasse.

"After that he told me we were facing a side from Liverpool and the shock I had when I saw them sporting Everton kits - I say this is wrong for me!

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

"The spectators who come and see are pleased and to give a moment if they see us competing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the pleasure of us having somewhere we can play, with organisation of course."

Such is the bench strength at the club, he made his first game at full-back.

"It's a little different but then, I enjoy running and just go inside - I'm not defending that much," he said.

"I warn my centre-back '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 full-back Maynor Figueroa is turning out for Wythenshawe

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to the forward's 6 scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in three games for the side, while George Boyd scored five on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

The team are leading of the Top Tier with three victories from three and a goal difference of +19.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for the opposition, came up against ex- Latics defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at two World Cups for his country, in addition to playing in over two hundred Premier League matches.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had all these former top-flight stars," said the player.

"I think I was a bit awestruck playing against Figueroa to be honest.

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

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

"Our group really haven't stopped talking about it - I was phoning my mum and sibling on the way home.

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

"Now we are eager for the return match."

'We'll Still Take the League'

The manager manages the opposition vets team, who secured the Top Division title last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"We went 1-0 ahead and had a

Taylor Mcmahon
Taylor Mcmahon

Elena is a seasoned casino analyst with over a decade of experience in online gaming.

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