Introduce the Sunday Division Club With 1,800 Premier League Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Vets in a six-two triumph versus their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you enhance a outstanding veteran squad that have claimed back-to-back championships, featuring a double triumph with 30 wins from thirty-two games?

Bring in a group of ex- professionals who have performed at the highest tier of club football and international football as you pursue further honors.

One Greater Manchester side fields an amateur veterans team with nine former top-flight players in their active roster.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Goals, 325 International Caps

The team Veterans Over 35s are based in southern the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Premier Tier.

Their lineup this season boasts nine former top-flight players, with a combined 1,801 top-flight games.

This elite roster also contains 222 top division goals and 325 international appearances.

The squad include one forward, who notched 37 scores in 117 appearances for his former club after joining them for £9m from German league club SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse had his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their most recent home match versus defending title holders their rivals and netted all six goals in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's team for this campaign also features ex- pros such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- Premier League footballers have claimed fifteen big trophies and transferred for combined transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Well-Known Figures and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He won six Republic of Ireland appearances, netting 4 goals

Ireland began playing for the team in pre-season this season through close friend and present team player Blake Norton, and the former Irish midfielder then asked additional former professionals, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side match, to join in.

Former Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve goals in sixty-five top-flight games for the Toffees and still goes to their home games, also had his debut versus the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and use an Everton warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

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

"After that he told me we were facing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I noticed them wearing Blue kits - I say this is wrong for me!

"When you still love the game and you feel you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to choose?

"The spectators who turn up and see are happy and to give someone's moment if they watch us competing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us getting a place we can play, with structure of course."

Such is the squad depth at Wythenshawe, he had his first game at full-back.

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

"I tell my centre-back '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 turning out for Wythenshawe

'Surreal Experience

In addition to Cisse's 6 scores on debut, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in 3 appearances for the side, while Boyd hit 5 on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a triple in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Tier with 3 victories from 3 and a goal difference of +19.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who features on the wing for the opposition, came up against former Latics defender Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

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

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

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

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

"We held our own for a good 20 mins but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

"Our group literally haven't stopped talking about it - I was phoning my mum and sibling on the way home.

"The opponents were all friendly, shaking our hands after the game - it was like facing a bunch of regular guys.

"Now we are eager for the return fixture."

We Will Still Take the Title'

The manager manages the Collegiate veterans team, who won the Top Tier championship last season, along with his co-manager.

"Our team went one-nil up and had a

Heidi Rogers
Heidi Rogers

A digital content strategist with a passion for newsletter curation and audience engagement, sharing insights from years in online media.

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