Discover this Sunday League Team Featuring Over 1,800 English Top Division Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Vets during a 6-2 triumph versus Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you boost a excellent veteran team that have secured consecutive championships, including a league-cup double boasting 30 victories from thirty-two games?

Sign a collection of former professionals that have competed at the highest level of club football and global football as you aim for more trophies.

One Manchester club fields an non-professional veterans team with 9 former top-flight players in their active lineup.

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

Wythenshawe Veterans Over-35s are based in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire Veterans League Top Division.

Their roster this season boasts nine ex- Premier League footballers, with a collective nearly 1,800 elite games.

This elite squad also includes over 220 top division goals and 325 international caps.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who scored 37 scores in 117 games for his former club after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their last home-field game versus defending champions their rivals and scored all six scores in a six-two victory - featuring a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

The team for this campaign also features former professionals such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the ex- top-flight footballers have won 15 major honors and transferred for total transfer sums of around £123m.

Well-Known Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned 6 Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring 4 goals

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the side during pre-season this season through close mate and present Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then invited additional former professionals, who all play in a weekly small-sided match, to join in.

Ex- Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve goals in 65 Premier League matches for the Toffees and still attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

"My friend Stephen Ireland told me 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," said the striker.

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

"If you still enjoy the game and you feel you can still do it, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to do?

"The spectators who come and watch are happy and to give someone's moment if they see us playing there and to pose us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us getting a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the squad depth at the club, Niasse had his first game at full-back.

"That's a bit different but then, I enjoy running and just go forward - I'm not defending that much," he added.

"I warn my defender 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to continue running.

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

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

'Surreal Feeling

Along with Cisse's six scores on his first game, Ireland has netted 8 in 3 appearances for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored five on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, scored a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Division with three victories from three and a GD of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for the opposition, came up against ex- Latics full-back Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at 2 global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to featuring in over two hundred top-flight games.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had these ex-Premier League stars," remarked the player.

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

"Even Heskey got on and he's got over 60 England appearances.

"We competed well for a good twenty mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was tough.

"Our group literally haven't stopped talking about it - I was calling my mother and sibling on the journey home.

"They were all friendly, shaking our hands after the match - it was like facing a bunch of normal guys.

"Now we are eager for the second fixture."

We Will 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 went 1-0 ahead and had a

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