Discover this Sunday League Club With Over 1,800 Premier League Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This bench for the team Veterans in a six-two win against Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you boost a stellar experienced squad that have claimed back-to-back championships, featuring a double triumph with thirty victories from thirty-two games?

Sign a collection of former professionals who have performed at the top tier of club football and international soccer as you target additional trophies.

One Greater Manchester club boasts an amateur vets team with 9 former Premier League footballers in their present roster.

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

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are located in southern Manchester and compete in the Cheshire Vets Division Top Division.

Their roster this campaign includes 9 ex- top-flight footballers, with a combined over 1,800 top-flight games.

The high-profile roster also boasts 222 top division goals and 325 global caps.

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

He had his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their last home game versus defending title holders their rivals and netted every one of the six goals in a six-two win - including a 32-minute first-half triple.

The team for this season also includes former pros such as England and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- Premier League footballers have secured 15 big trophies and transferred for total transfer sums of approximately £123m.

Famous Names and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned 6 Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring four scores

Ireland started playing for the team in pre-season this season through good mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then invited additional ex-pros, who all compete in a midweek small-sided match, to participate.

Ex- Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who scored twelve scores in sixty-five Premier League matches for Everton and even now attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his first appearance against Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and use an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

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

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

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

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

"Those fans who turn up and see are pleased and to give someone's day if they watch us competing there and to ask us queries - it's really about the joy of us getting somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the strength in depth at the club, he made his first game at full-back.

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

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

"The running is what I'm seeking. It's enjoyable."

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

'Surreal Experience

Along with the forward's six goals on his first game, Ireland has scored eight in three games for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd scored five on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a hat-trick in one match up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Premier Tier with three wins from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

One opponent, 38, who plays on the flank for the opposition, came up against ex- Wigan defender Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

He has played at 2 global tournaments for his country, in as well as featuring in more than 200 Premier League games.

"It was going round like wildfire they had all these ex-Premier League players," remarked the player.

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

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

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

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

"They were all dead sound, shaking our hands after the match - 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 Top Tier championship the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went one-nil up and had a

Gabriela Davis
Gabriela Davis

A tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering AI and emerging technologies, passionate about demystifying complex innovations for a global audience.