Meet the Sunday League Club With 1,800 Premier League Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for the team Veterans in a 6-2 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

How do you enhance a outstanding experienced squad who have won consecutive championships, featuring a double triumph boasting thirty victories from 32 games?

Recruit a collection of ex- pro players who have played at the elite tier of club and global football as you aim for further silverware.

A Greater Manchester team fields an non-professional vets team with 9 former top-flight players in their present lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Caps

The team Veterans Over 35s are based in southern the city and play in the Cheshire Vets League Top Tier.

Their lineup this season boasts nine former Premier League players, with a total 1,801 Premier League appearances.

This high-profile squad also contains 222 top division scores and 325 international appearances.

They include one forward, who scored 37 goals in 117 games for Newcastle United after joining them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side Freiburg in 2012.

He made his first appearance for the team in their most recent home match against defending champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six goals in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute opening period triple.

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

Together, the ex- top-flight players have claimed fifteen big honors and transferred for combined transfer fees of about £123 million.

Household Figures and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Irish caps, scoring four goals

Stephen Ireland started playing for the side in pre-season this summer through close mate and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then invited additional former professionals, who all play in a midweek small-sided match, to participate.

Ex- Senegalese striker Niasse, who netted 12 goals in 65 top-flight games for Everton and still attends their home games, also had his first appearance against the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and use an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

"A mate Stephen said 'come and play, it's good fun'," commented Niasse.

"After that he informed me we were playing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I noticed them sporting Blue shirts - I thought this is strange for me!

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

"The spectators who come and watch are happy and to make someone's moment if they watch us competing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the joy of us getting a place we can play, with structure of course."

Such is the strength in depth at the club, Niasse had his first game at defender.

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

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

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

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

Dreamlike' Experience

Along with the forward's six goals on his first game, Stephen Ireland has netted eight in three appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit 5 on his debut appearance and Lescott, a defender by trade, scored a triple in one match up front.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Division with three wins from three and a GD of plus nineteen.

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

He has played at two World Cups for his country, in addition to playing in over 200 Premier League matches.

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

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

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

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

"We really have not ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mother and brother on the way home.

"The opponents were all really nice, shaking our hands after the match - it was like facing a group of normal guys.

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

'We'll Still Take the League'

The manager coaches the Collegiate veterans team, who won the Top Division title last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went one-nil ahead and had a

Mark Lee
Mark Lee

A passionate wellness coach and herbalist dedicated to sharing natural health insights.