Introduce the Sunday Division Squad Featuring 1,800 Top-Flight Matches

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

What do you boost a stellar experienced squad who have secured consecutive titles, featuring a double triumph boasting 30 wins from thirty-two games?

Recruit a collection of ex- pro players that have performed at the top level of club football and global soccer as you target more silverware.

A Greater Manchester side fields an amateur vets squad with 9 ex- top-flight footballers in their present roster.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Appearances

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

Their lineup this season includes nine former top-flight footballers, with a combined nearly 1,800 top-flight matches.

This high-profile team also boasts 222 Premier League goals and 325 international appearances.

The squad include Papiss Cisse, who netted thirty-seven goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for nine million pounds from German league side Freiburg in 2012.

Cisse had his first appearance for the team in their most recent home-field game against defending title holders their rivals and scored every one of the six goals in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

The roster for this campaign also features former professionals such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the ex- top-flight players have secured 15 big honors and moved for combined transfer sums of around £123 million.

Household Figures and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Republic of Ireland appearances, netting four scores

Ireland started playing for the side during pre-season this summer through close mate and present team player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland player then asked other former professionals, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side match, to join in.

Ex- Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse, who netted twelve goals in sixty-five top-flight matches for Everton and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut versus 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 from 2016 and 2020

"A friend Stephen said 'come and play, it's good fun'," said the striker.

"After that he told me we were playing a side from Liverpool and the shock I had when I noticed them wearing Everton kits - I thought this is strange for me!

"If you still love football and you feel you can still do it, anywhere you can play, what are you going to do?

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

So great is the strength in depth at the club, Niasse had his debut at defender.

"It's a little different but then, I love sprinting and just move inside - I'm not staying back that much," he added.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is turning out for the team

'Surreal Scenario

In addition to the forward's 6 goals on his first game, Stephen Ireland has scored 8 in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored five on his first appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a hat-trick in one game up front.

The team are top of the Premier Division with 3 wins from three and a goal difference of +19.

One opponent, 38, who plays on the flank for the opposition, faced 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 his country, in addition to playing in more than 200 Premier League matches.

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

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

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

"Our side held our own for a solid 20 mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was tough.

"Our group really have not stopped talking about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the journey home.

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

"Now we are eager for the second fixture."

'We'll Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition vets team, who won the Premier Tier title the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went one-nil ahead and had a

Timothy Houston
Timothy Houston

A UK-based cultural analyst and writer with over a decade of experience covering societal trends and lifestyle innovations across Europe.