Introduce the Sunday Division Team With Nearly Two Thousand Premier League Games

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

What can you improve a outstanding veteran team that have claimed back-to-back championships, including a league-cup double boasting thirty wins from thirty-two games?

Recruit a raft of former professionals that have performed at the elite tier of club and international soccer as you target additional honors.

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

222 Premier League Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Appearances

The team Veterans Over 35s are based in southern the city and play in the Cheshire Vets League Top Division.

Their squad list this season features 9 former Premier League footballers, with a total nearly 1,800 Premier League appearances.

This elite roster also includes 222 top division scores and 325 international appearances.

The squad include one forward, who notched thirty-seven goals in over 100 appearances for his former club after joining them for £9m from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse had his debut for the team in their last home-field game against defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six goals in a six-two win - including a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's squad for this campaign also features ex- professionals such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the former Premier League players have secured 15 big trophies and moved for total transfer sums of about £123 million.

Well-Known Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He won six Irish appearances, scoring four scores

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

Ex- Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve goals in 65 Premier League matches for Everton and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut against the opposition - who are located in the city and use an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

"A mate Stephen Ireland said 'come and have a game, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

"Then he informed me we were facing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Blue shirts - I thought this is wrong for me!

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

"Those people who come and see are happy and to make someone's day if they see us playing there and to ask us questions - it's more like the pleasure of us getting a place we can enjoy football, with structure 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 love running and just move forward - I'm not defending that much," he said.

"I tell my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to continue running.

"That running is what I'm seeking. It's enjoyable."

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

'Surreal Feeling

Along with Cisse's six goals on debut, Ireland has netted eight in 3 appearances for the side, while Boyd scored 5 on his first appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a hat-trick in one game up front.

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

One opponent, 38, who plays on the flank for the opposition, came up against ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to featuring in over 200 Premier League matches.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had these former top-flight stars," remarked Barrow.

"I think I was a little awestruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

"Even Emile [Heskey] got on and he's has 60-odd English appearances.

"Our side competed well for a good 20 mins but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

"We literally haven't ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the journey home.

"The opponents were all dead sound, shaking our hands after the match - it was like playing a bunch of normal fellas.

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

We Will Still Take the Title'

The manager coaches the opposition veterans side, who secured the Top Division title last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"We went 1-0 ahead and had a

Michael Martinez
Michael Martinez

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