Meet this Sunday Division Squad Boasting 1,800 English Top Division Matches

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

What can you improve a outstanding veteran side that have won consecutive championships, including a double triumph with 30 victories from 32 matches?

Bring in a raft of former pro players that have competed at the top level of club and global soccer as you pursue additional honors.

One Manchester club has an amateur veterans team with nine ex- Premier League players in their active roster.

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

The team Veterans Over-35s are based in southern Manchester and play in the Cheshire Veterans League Premier Division.

The lineup this season includes nine former Premier League players, with a combined nearly 1,800 Premier League appearances.

The elite squad also includes 222 top division scores and 325 global caps.

The squad feature one forward, who netted 37 goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home match against reigning champions their rivals and netted every one of the six scores in a 6-2 win - including a half-hour opening period triple.

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

In total, the ex- top-flight footballers have secured fifteen big trophies and moved for combined transfer sums of around ÂŁ123 million.

Well-Known Figures and Global Players

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

Ireland started playing for the side in pre-season this season through close mate and present team player Blake Norton, and the former Irish midfielder then asked other ex-pros, who all play in a midweek small-sided game, to participate.

Ex- Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who scored 12 scores in sixty-five top-flight games for the Toffees and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also made his debut against the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Blue training kit as their strip.

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

"A friend Stephen said 'join and play, it's enjoyable'," commented the striker.

"Then he told me we were playing a side from the city and the shock I had when I noticed them sporting Everton kits - I thought this is strange for me!

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

"Those fans who come and watch are happy and to make someone's moment if they see us playing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the joy of us getting somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, Niasse made his first game at defender.

"It's a little unusual but then, I enjoy running and just move forward - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

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

"The running is what I'm looking for. It's good fun."

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is turning out for Wythenshawe

'Surreal Experience

In addition to the forward's 6 scores on his first game, Ireland has netted eight in three games for the side, while George Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, notched a triple in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Premier Division with 3 victories from 3 and a GD of +19.

One opponent, 38, who plays on the flank for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Latics full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

He has appeared at two global tournaments for his country, in addition to featuring in over two hundred top-flight matches.

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

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

"Even Heskey came on and he's has 60-odd English caps.

"Our side held our own for a solid twenty mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was hard.

"We literally have not ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mother and sibling on the journey home.

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

"Now we are eager for the second fixture."

We Will Still Take the Title'

The manager manages the opposition veterans side, who secured the Premier Tier title the previous campaign, along with his co-manager.

"Our team went 1-0 up and had a

Katherine James
Katherine James

Alex is a passionate gamer and content creator who loves exploring the latest online games and sharing insights with the gaming community.