Introduce this Sunday League Club Boasting Nearly Two Thousand English Top Division Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for the team Veterans in a 6-2 triumph against Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you boost a stellar veteran team who have secured consecutive titles, featuring a double triumph boasting 30 victories from thirty-two games?

Bring in a group of ex- professionals who have competed at the top tier of club and global soccer as you target further silverware.

A Manchester club boasts an amateur vets team with nine ex- top-flight footballers in their current roster.

222 Premier League Scores, 325 International Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are based in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Veterans Division Top Division.

Their lineup this campaign boasts nine ex- Premier League players, with a total nearly 1,800 elite appearances.

The high-profile squad also includes 222 Premier League goals and over 320 global appearances.

The squad feature one forward, who notched thirty-seven scores in 117 appearances for his former club after joining them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home game versus defending title holders their rivals and scored every one of the six goals in a six-two victory - featuring a half-hour first-half hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's squad for this season also features former professionals such as England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the ex- Premier League footballers have claimed 15 significant honors and transferred for total transfer sums of about £123m.

Well-Known Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Irish appearances, netting 4 goals

Ireland began turning out for the side during preseason this summer through close mate and present Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish midfielder then asked other former professionals, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side match, to join in.

Ex- Senegal striker Niasse, who scored 12 goals in 65 Premier League games for the Toffees and even now attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut against Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

"A mate Stephen Ireland told me 'come and have a game, it's a laugh'," said the striker.

"Then he told me we were playing a team from the city and the shock I had when I saw them sporting Everton shirts - I say this is wrong for me!

"When you still love football and you know you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to do?

"The spectators who turn up and see are pleased and to make a day if they watch us competing there and to ask us queries - it's really about the pleasure of us getting somewhere we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the squad depth at the club, Niasse made his debut at defender.

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

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa is turning out for the team

Dreamlike' Feeling

Along with Cisse's six goals on his first game, Ireland has scored 8 in 3 games for the side, while George Boyd hit five on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Division with 3 wins from 3 and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for the opposition, came up against former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two World Cups for his country, in as well as featuring in over 200 top-flight matches.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had all these ex-Premier League players," remarked the player.

"I think I was a bit starstruck playing against him to be honest.

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

"We held our own for a solid twenty minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was hard.

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

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

"Now we can't wait for the second match."

We Will Still Win the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate vets team, who secured the Top Division championship last season, along with his co-manager.

"We scored one-nil up and had a

Julian Smith Jr.
Julian Smith Jr.

A seasoned journalist specializing in UK political analysis with over a decade of experience covering Westminster and international relations.