Introduce the Sunday League Team Boasting 1,800 Premier League Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for the team Vets during a 6-2 win versus Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (from left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you enhance a outstanding veteran team that have claimed back-to-back championships, including a league-cup double boasting 30 victories from 32 games?

Sign a raft of former pro players that have played at the top level of club and global football as you pursue further trophies.

One Greater Manchester team boasts an amateur veterans team with nine former top-flight players in their present squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, 325 Global Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are situated in south the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Premier Tier.

The roster this season includes nine ex- Premier League players, with a total 1,801 top-flight matches.

The elite squad also contains 222 Premier League goals and over 320 global caps.

The squad include one forward, who notched thirty-seven scores in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home match versus defending champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted all six scores in a six-two victory - including a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

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

In total, the former top-flight players have claimed 15 major honors and moved for combined transfer fees of around £123m.

Well-Known Figures and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Irish caps, netting four goals

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the team during pre-season this summer through good mate and present Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then invited other former professionals, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side game, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese forward Niasse, who netted twelve scores in sixty-five top-flight games for the Toffees and even now goes to their home games, also had his first appearance against the opposition - who are based in the city and wear an Everton training kit as their strip.

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

"My friend Stephen Ireland told me 'come and play, it's a laugh'," commented the striker.

"After that he informed me we were playing a side from Liverpool and the shock I had when I saw them sporting Everton shirts - I thought this is wrong for me!

"When you still love the game and you know you can still play, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"Those spectators who come and see are pleased and to make a day if they watch us playing there and to pose us queries - it's more like the pleasure of us getting a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the bench strength at Wythenshawe, he made his debut at full-back.

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

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

"That movement is what I'm looking for. It's enjoyable."

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

Along with the forward's 6 scores on his first game, Ireland has netted eight in 3 appearances for the side, while George Boyd hit five on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, notched a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Division with 3 wins from three and a goal difference of +19.

One opponent, 38, who features on the wing for the opposition, faced former Latics defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young son who Emile Heskey was.

He has appeared at 2 World Cups for his country, in addition to featuring in more than two hundred top-flight matches.

"It was spreading like wildfire they had all these former top-flight players," said Barrow.

"I felt I was a bit awestruck facing him to be honest.

"Even Emile [Heskey] got on and he's got over 60 English caps.

"We held our own for a good 20 minutes but then we had a man dismissed and it was tough.

"Our group really have not stopped chatting about it - I was phoning my mother and brother on the journey home.

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

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

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition vets side, who secured the Premier Division title the previous campaign, together with Paul Maguire.

"We went one-nil ahead and had a

Cynthia Ward
Cynthia Ward

Construction technology analyst and content strategist with over a decade of experience.