Introduce this Sunday League Club Boasting Over 1,800 Top-Flight Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for Wythenshawe Vets during a six-two triumph against Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you boost a stellar veteran team that have won back-to-back championships, including a league-cup double boasting 30 victories from thirty-two matches?

Sign a raft of former professionals who have performed at the top level of club and global football as you aim for additional trophies.

One Greater Manchester side boasts an non-professional vets squad with 9 ex- top-flight footballers in their current lineup.

222 Premier League Scores, 325 International Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over 35s are situated in south the city and play in the Cheshire Veterans Division Premier Tier.

The squad list this season features 9 former top-flight players, with a combined 1,801 top-flight games.

This star-studded team also includes 222 Premier League goals and 325 international caps.

The squad feature one forward, who scored thirty-seven goals in 117 games for his former club after moving to them for £9m from German league side SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse had his debut for the team in their last home-field game against reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six scores in a six-two victory - featuring a 32-minute first-half triple.

The team for this season also features ex- pros such as English and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the former top-flight footballers have secured 15 big honors and transferred for combined transfer sums of around £123m.

Famous Names and Global Players

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

Stephen Ireland started playing for the team during pre-season this summer through close friend and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Republic of Ireland midfielder then invited additional former professionals, who all play in a midweek small-sided game, to participate.

Former Senegal forward Niasse, who scored twelve scores in 65 Premier League matches for Everton and even now attends their home games, also had his debut versus the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and use an Blue training kit as their strip.

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

"My friend Stephen said 'join and play, it's good fun'," commented the striker.

"Then he told me we were facing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Everton kits - I say this is strange for me!

"If you still enjoy the game and you feel you can still do it, anywhere you can play, what are you going to do?

"Those spectators who come and watch are happy and to make a moment if they watch us competing there and to pose us questions - it's really about the joy of us having a place we can play, with organisation of course."

So great is the bench strength at Wythenshawe, Niasse had his debut at defender.

"It's a bit unusual but then, I love sprinting and just go inside - I'm not defending that much," he said.

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

"That movement is what I'm seeking. It's enjoyable."

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

'Surreal Feeling

Along with Cisse's 6 scores on his first game, Stephen Ireland has scored 8 in three games for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, notched a triple in one match up front.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Tier with 3 victories from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who features on the wing for the opposition, faced former Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa on the weekend - and had to explain his young son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two global tournaments for his country, in as well as playing in over two hundred Premier League matches.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had these ex-Premier League stars," remarked the player.

"I felt I was a little starstruck facing him to be honest.

"Also Heskey got on and he's has over 60 English appearances.

"Our side competed well for a good 20 minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was hard.

"Our group literally haven't stopped talking about it - I was phoning my mother and sibling on the journey home.

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

"Now we are eager for the second fixture."

'We'll Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition veterans team, who won the Top Tier championship last season, along with his co-manager.

"Our team scored one-nil ahead and had a

Bethany Hawkins
Bethany Hawkins

Lena Voss is a seasoned sports bettor and casino analyst with over a decade of experience in the gambling industry.