Introduce the Sunday Division Squad Featuring Over 1,800 Premier League Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for Wythenshawe Vets during a 6-2 victory against Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you enhance a excellent veteran squad that have secured back-to-back titles, featuring a league-cup double with 30 wins from thirty-two games?

Sign a raft of ex- pro players who have performed at the highest tier of club football and global football as you aim for further honors.

One Greater Manchester side fields an amateur veterans squad with 9 ex- top-flight players in their active squad.

222 Premier League Scores, 325 Global Appearances

The team Vets Over-35s are situated in southern Manchester and play in the Cheshire Veterans Division Premier Division.

The squad list this campaign boasts nine former Premier League footballers, with a collective over 1,800 elite appearances.

This high-profile team also includes 222 Premier League goals and 325 global appearances.

The squad include one forward, who notched thirty-seven goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after joining them for nine million pounds from German league club SC Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their last home-field game versus reigning title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six goals in a 6-2 victory - including a half-hour first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's roster for this season also features ex- pros such as England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC midfielder George Boyd, Toffees forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- Premier League footballers have secured 15 big honors and transferred for total transfer fees of about £123m.

Well-Known Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
He won 6 Republic of Ireland appearances, netting four goals

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the side during pre-season this season through close mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then asked other former professionals, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side game, to participate.

Ex- Senegal forward Niasse, who netted 12 goals in 65 top-flight games for the Toffees and even now attends their home games, also made his first appearance versus the opposition - who are located in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their strip.

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

"A friend Stephen Ireland said 'join and play, it's good fun'," commented Niasse.

"Then he informed me we were facing a team from Liverpool and the shock I had when I noticed them wearing Everton shirts - I thought this is strange for me!

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

"Those spectators who turn up and see are pleased and to give 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 play, with organisation of course."

Such is the strength in depth at the club, he made his first game at defender.

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

"I warn my centre-back 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to keep running.

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to Cisse's six goals on his first game, Stephen Ireland has scored eight in three appearances for the side, while George Boyd scored 5 on his first appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a hat-trick in one match as a striker.

The team are top of the Premier Division with three wins from 3 and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

Paul Barrow, 38, who plays on the wing for the opposition, came up against ex- Wigan full-back Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young boy who Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two World Cups for his country, in addition to playing in more than 200 Premier League matches.

"The news was going round like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League players," said the player.

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

"Even Emile [Heskey] came on and he's got 60-odd England appearances.

"We held our own for a good 20 mins but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

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

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

"Now we are eager for the second match."

We Will Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the Collegiate vets side, who won the Premier Division championship last season, along with his co-manager.

"We went 1-0 ahead and had a

Timothy Hart
Timothy Hart

A seasoned betting analyst with over a decade of experience in online gaming and sports wagering.

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