Meet this Sunday Division Squad Featuring Over 1,800 Top-Flight Matches

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

How can you improve a excellent experienced side that have secured consecutive championships, including a league-cup double with thirty wins from 32 matches?

Bring in a group of former professionals who have performed at the elite tier of club football and global football as you aim for further trophies.

One Manchester side fields an amateur veterans team with nine former top-flight footballers in their present lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are situated in south the city and compete in the Cheshire Vets League Top Division.

Their squad list this season boasts 9 former top-flight footballers, with a collective over 1,800 Premier League games.

This elite team also boasts over 220 top division goals and over 320 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who notched thirty-seven goals in 117 appearances for his former club after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for the team in their last home match against reigning title holders their rivals and netted every one of the six scores in a six-two win - including a half-hour opening period triple.

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

Collectively, the ex- Premier League players have won 15 big trophies and moved for combined transfer fees of around £123m.

Household Names and International Players

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

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the side in preseason this summer through close friend and current team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then invited additional ex-pros, who all play in a midweek small-sided game, to join in.

Former Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 scores in 65 top-flight games for Everton and still attends their home games, also made his debut against the opposition - who are located in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

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

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

"If you still love football and you feel you can still do it, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"The people who turn up and see are happy and to give a moment if they see us playing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the joy of us getting somewhere we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his debut at full-back.

"That's a little unusual but then, I enjoy sprinting and just go inside - I'm not defending that much," he said.

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

"The movement is what I'm after. It's enjoyable."

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to Cisse's 6 goals on debut, Ireland has netted eight in three games for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored 5 on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, notched 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.

One opponent, 38, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced former Wigan full-back Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two global tournaments for his country, in as well as playing in more than 200 top-flight games.

"It was going round like a rumor they had all these former top-flight stars," said the player.

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

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

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

"Our group really have not ceased talking about it - I was calling my mum and brother on the way 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 match."

We Will Still Take the League'

The manager coaches the Collegiate vets team, who secured the Premier Tier title last season, along with his co-manager.

"Our team scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Victoria Clay
Victoria Clay

A professional gambler and casino analyst with over 15 years of experience in slot machines and table games, sharing insights to help players make informed decisions.