Introduce this Sunday Division Squad Featuring Nearly Two Thousand English Top Division Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Veterans in a 6-2 win versus their opponents on 19 October (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you enhance a excellent experienced side that have secured consecutive titles, including a league-cup double with thirty wins from 32 games?

Sign a group of ex- pro players that have competed at the top tier of club and global soccer as you aim for more silverware.

One Greater Manchester side boasts an non-professional vets team with 9 former top-flight players in their active roster.

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

The team Veterans Over-35s are located in south the city and play in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Premier Division.

Their roster this season features nine former Premier League footballers, with a collective nearly 1,800 Premier League appearances.

This high-profile roster also contains over 220 Premier League scores and 325 global caps.

The squad feature Papiss Cisse, who notched thirty-seven scores in over 100 appearances for his former club after joining them for £9m from Bundesliga side Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his debut for the team in their last home-field match versus reigning title holders their rivals and scored every one of the six goals in a 6-2 win - featuring a 32-minute opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's roster for this season also includes former professionals such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the former Premier League footballers have won fifteen significant trophies and transferred for total transfer sums of about £123m.

Well-Known Figures and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned six Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring 4 scores

Ireland started playing for the side during preseason this summer through close mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Irish player then invited other former professionals, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side game, to join in.

Ex- Senegal forward Oumar Niasse, who scored 12 scores in 65 top-flight matches for the Toffees and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also made his first appearance versus the opposition - who are based in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

"A mate Stephen said 'come and have a game, it's a laugh'," commented Niasse.

"After that he told me we were facing a side from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Blue kits - I thought this is strange for me!

"If you still love the game and you know you can still do it, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to do?

"Those fans who come and watch are pleased and to make someone's day if they watch us competing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the joy of us having a place we can play, with organisation of course."

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

"That's a little unusual but then, I enjoy running and just go 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 continue attacking.

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

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

Dreamlike' Experience

In addition to Cisse's 6 goals on his first game, Ireland has netted eight in 3 appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored 5 on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a triple in one game up front.

The team are top of the Top Tier with three victories from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

One opponent, 38, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two global tournaments for his country, in addition to featuring in more than 200 top-flight games.

"It was spreading like wildfire they had these ex-Premier League players," said Barrow.

"I felt I was a little starstruck facing Figueroa to be honest.

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

"Our side held our own for a solid 20 mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was tough.

"We literally have not ceased talking about it - I was phoning my mother and brother on the way 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 Will Still Win the League'

The manager manages the opposition vets team, who won the Top Division championship last season, along with his co-manager.

"Our team went one-nil up and had a

Elizabeth Haas
Elizabeth Haas

Elara is a luxury travel journalist and lifestyle curator with over a decade of experience exploring exclusive destinations worldwide.