Discover this Sunday Division Club Boasting Nearly Two Thousand Premier League Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans in a six-two triumph versus their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - one player, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How do you enhance a outstanding experienced team who have claimed consecutive titles, including a double triumph with thirty wins from 32 matches?

Recruit a raft of ex- professionals that have competed at the elite tier of club football and international football as you pursue more trophies.

One Greater Manchester side has an amateur veterans squad with 9 former top-flight footballers in their present lineup.

222 Top Division Scores, 325 International Caps

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

Their roster this campaign includes nine former top-flight footballers, with a combined over 1,800 elite games.

This high-profile team also boasts 222 top division goals and 325 global caps.

The squad feature one forward, who netted 37 scores in 117 games for his former club after joining them for £9m from Bundesliga club Freiburg in 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home match against defending champions their rivals and scored every one of the six goals in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute first-half hat-trick.

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

Collectively, the ex- top-flight footballers have claimed 15 significant trophies and transferred for total transfer fees of around £123 million.

Famous Names and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He earned six Irish appearances, scoring four scores

Ireland began turning out for the team in preseason this season through close mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited other former professionals, who all play in a midweek small-sided match, to participate.

Former Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse, who netted twelve scores in 65 top-flight matches for the Toffees and still goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"My mate Stephen Ireland said 'join and play, it's a laugh'," commented the striker.

"After that he told me we were facing a side from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Blue shirts - I say this is wrong for me!

"If you still love the game and you know you can still play, anywhere you can play, what are you going to do?

"Those spectators who come and watch are happy and to give a moment if they watch us competing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the joy of us having a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

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

"That's a little different but then, I enjoy sprinting and just move forward - I'm not defending that much," he added.

"I warn my defender 'I'm not staying' and that I'm just going to continue attacking.

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

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

Unreal Feeling

In addition to the forward's 6 goals on his first game, Ireland has scored eight in 3 games for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored five on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a triple in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Top Division with three victories from 3 and a GD of +19.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the flank for the opposition, came up against ex- Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young boy who Heskey was.

He has appeared at two World Cups for his country, in as well as playing in over 200 Premier League games.

"The news was spreading like wildfire they had all these ex-Premier League players," remarked Barrow.

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

"Also Heskey came on and he's got 60-odd England caps.

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

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

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

"Now we are eager for the second fixture."

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate vets team, who secured the Top Division title the previous campaign, along with his co-manager.

"Our team scored one-nil up and had a

Kelly Huff
Kelly Huff

Elara is a tech enthusiast and writer with a passion for exploring how innovation shapes everyday life and sharing actionable insights.