Introduce this Sunday League Team With Over 1,800 English Top Division Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans in a 6-2 win against their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - one player, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you boost a stellar experienced side that have won back-to-back championships, including a double triumph boasting 30 wins from thirty-two matches?

Recruit a group of former professionals that have played at the highest tier of club and international football as you aim for further silverware.

One Greater Manchester team has an non-professional veterans team with 9 former top-flight players in their current lineup.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Premier League Scores, 325 Global Caps

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s are based in south Manchester and play in the Cheshire Veterans League Premier Tier.

Their lineup this campaign features 9 ex- top-flight footballers, with a combined 1,801 Premier League appearances.

The star-studded roster also boasts over 220 Premier League goals and over 320 international appearances.

The squad feature one forward, who notched thirty-seven scores in 117 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for £9m from German league side Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse made his debut for the team in their most recent home match versus defending champions their rivals and netted all six scores in a 6-2 victory - featuring a half-hour opening period triple.

The team for this campaign also includes former professionals such as English and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former top-flight players have secured fifteen major trophies and transferred for combined transfer fees of about £123 million.

Household Names and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned 6 Irish caps, netting 4 goals

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the team during preseason this season through close mate and current team player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish midfielder then invited other ex-pros, who all play in a midweek nine-a-side game, to participate.

Former Senegal striker Niasse, who scored 12 scores in sixty-five top-flight matches for the Toffees and even now attends their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut against Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and wear an Blue training kit as their uniform.

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

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

"Then he told me we were facing a side from Liverpool and the surprise I had when I saw them sporting Everton kits - I thought this is wrong for me!

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

"The spectators who come and watch are pleased and to make a moment if they see us playing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the joy of us having a place we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

So great is the strength in depth at Wythenshawe, he made his debut at full-back.

"That's a bit different but then, I love running and just go forward - I'm not defending that much," he added.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa is playing for the team

Unreal Scenario

Along with Cisse's six scores on debut, Ireland has scored 8 in three appearances for Wythenshawe, while George Boyd hit 5 on his debut match and Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a triple in one match as a striker.

The team are leading of the Premier Tier with three wins from three and a goal difference of plus nineteen.

One opponent, 38, who features on the flank for the opposition, faced former Wigan full-back Maynor 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 wildfire they had all these ex-Premier League stars," remarked the player.

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

"Even Emile [Heskey] got on and he's got 60-odd English caps.

"Our side held our own for a solid 20 mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was hard.

"We literally have not stopped chatting about it - I was phoning my mother and sibling on the way home.

"They were all friendly, shaking our hands after the match - it was like facing a bunch of normal guys.

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

'We'll Still Win the Title'

The manager manages the opposition vets side, who secured the Top Tier championship last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"Our team scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Morgan Beasley
Morgan Beasley

Sustainable architect and writer passionate about eco-friendly design and geodesic structures, sharing insights from years of experience.