Introduce this Sunday League Squad With Over 1,800 Premier League Games

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

How can you boost a excellent veteran squad who have secured consecutive championships, featuring a double triumph with 30 victories from 32 matches?

Bring in a collection of former professionals who have competed at the top tier of club and international football as you aim for more honors.

One Greater Manchester side fields an amateur vets team with nine former Premier League footballers in their current squad.

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

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are located in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Top Tier.

The lineup this season boasts nine ex- Premier League footballers, with a total 1,801 top-flight games.

The elite roster also contains over 220 Premier League scores and 325 international caps.

They include Papiss Cisse, who scored thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

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

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

Collectively, the ex- top-flight players have claimed fifteen major honors and transferred for total transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Household Names and Global Players

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

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

Ex- Senegal forward Niasse, who netted 12 scores in sixty-five top-flight games for the Toffees and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"My mate Stephen said 'join and play, it's enjoyable'," commented Niasse.

"After that he informed me we were playing a team from the city and the surprise I had when I noticed them sporting Everton shirts - I say this is strange for me!

"If you still enjoy football and you know you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to choose?

"Those fans who come and watch are happy and to make a moment if they see us competing there and to pose us queries - it's really about the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

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

"That's a little different but then, I love running and just move forward - I'm not defending that much," he added.

"I warn my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to keep running.

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

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

Along with the forward's 6 goals on his first game, Ireland has netted eight in 3 appearances for the side, while George Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Tier with three wins from three and a GD of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, 38, who plays on the wing for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Wigan full-back Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two World Cups for his country, in addition to featuring in more than 200 Premier League matches.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had these former top-flight players," remarked 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 caps.

"Our side held our own for a solid 20 minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was hard.

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

"The opponents were all really nice, shaking our hands after the match - it was like playing a bunch of regular guys.

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

'We'll Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate veterans side, who secured the Top Division title last season, together with his co-manager.

"We went one-nil up and had a

Thomas Thompson
Thomas Thompson

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