Introduce the Sunday League Club Featuring Over 1,800 Premier League Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans during a six-two win against Collegiate Old Boys on 19 October (left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What can you boost a stellar veteran squad that have secured back-to-back championships, featuring a double triumph with thirty wins from 32 matches?

Bring in a collection of former professionals who have performed at the top level of club football and global football as you aim for more silverware.

A Greater Manchester club has an non-professional vets team with nine former top-flight footballers in their current roster.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Goals, 325 Global Appearances

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

Their lineup this season features nine former top-flight players, with a total 1,801 elite games.

This high-profile roster also boasts over 220 Premier League scores and 325 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who notched thirty-seven goals in over 100 games for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse had his debut for the team in their last home-field game versus defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and scored all six scores in a 6-2 win - featuring a half-hour first-half triple.

The squad for this campaign also features ex- professionals such as English and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the ex- top-flight players have won fifteen significant honors and transferred for total transfer fees of about £123m.

Household Figures and International Stars

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

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the side in pre-season this summer through good mate and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the former Irish player then invited other former professionals, who all play in a weekly small-sided match, to participate.

Ex- Senegal forward Oumar Niasse, who scored 12 scores in sixty-five Premier League matches for the Toffees and even now attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut versus Collegiate OB - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

"A mate Stephen said 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," said Niasse.

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

"When you still enjoy the game and you know you can still do it, wherever you can play, what are you going to do?

"Those people who come and see are happy and to make a moment if they watch us playing 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."

Such is the bench strength at Wythenshawe, he made his first game at defender.

"That's a little different but then, I love running and just go inside - I'm not staying back that much," he said.

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

"The movement is what I'm looking for. It's enjoyable."

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to the forward's six goals on his first game, Stephen Ireland has netted eight in three appearances for the side, while Boyd hit 5 on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, notched a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Division with three wins from 3 and a goal difference of +19.

Paul Barrow, 38, who plays on the wing for the opposition, faced ex- Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

He has appeared at 2 World Cups for his country, in addition to featuring in more than 200 Premier League games.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League players," said Barrow.

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

"Also Heskey came on and he's has over 60 English caps.

"We competed well for a solid twenty minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

"We literally have not ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mum and brother on the journey 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 Win the League'

The manager coaches the Collegiate vets side, who won the Premier Tier title the previous campaign, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team scored one-nil up and had a

Paul Garner
Paul Garner

A gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering casino slots and industry developments worldwide.