Meet the Sunday League Club Boasting Over 1,800 Premier League Appearances

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for the team Vets during a six-two victory versus Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (from left to right) - one player, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you enhance a excellent veteran team who have won back-to-back titles, featuring a double triumph with thirty wins from thirty-two games?

Bring in a raft of former professionals who have performed at the elite level of club and international soccer as you aim for additional honors.

One Manchester club has an non-professional veterans team with nine former top-flight footballers in their active squad.

222 Top Division Scores, 325 Global Caps

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

Their lineup this season includes nine ex- top-flight footballers, with a total 1,801 Premier League appearances.

The elite squad also boasts 222 Premier League goals and 325 global caps.

The squad feature one forward, who netted thirty-seven goals in over 100 appearances for his former club after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in 2012.

He made his debut for the team in their last home game against defending title holders their rivals and scored every one of the six scores in a six-two victory - including a 32-minute opening period hat-trick.

Wythenshawe's roster for this season also includes former professionals such as England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Toffees striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

In total, the former top-flight players have secured 15 big honors and moved for combined transfer sums of about £123 million.

Famous Figures and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned 6 Republic of Ireland appearances, netting four scores

Stephen Ireland began playing for the side during pre-season this summer through good friend and present Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then invited additional former professionals, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side match, to participate.

Ex- Senegal striker Niasse, who scored twelve scores in sixty-five Premier League games for the Toffees and even now goes to their matches at Goodison Park, also had his debut versus the opposition - who are based in Liverpool and wear an Everton training kit as their uniform.

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

"A mate Stephen told me 'join and have a game, it's a laugh'," commented the striker.

"Then he informed me we were playing a side from the city and the shock I had when I saw them sporting Blue shirts - I say this is strange for me!

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

"The spectators who come and watch are pleased and to give someone's day if they see us playing there and to ask us questions - it's really about the pleasure of us having a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

Such is the bench strength at the club, Niasse made his debut at full-back.

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

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Ex- Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa is playing for Wythenshawe

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to Cisse's 6 scores on debut, Ireland has netted 8 in 3 appearances for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a hat-trick in one game as a striker.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Division with 3 victories from 3 and a goal difference of +19.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for the opposition, faced ex- Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has appeared at two global tournaments for Honduras, in as well as playing in over 200 Premier League games.

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

"I think I was a bit starstruck facing him to be honest.

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

"We competed well for a good 20 minutes but then we had a man dismissed and it was tough.

"We literally haven't stopped chatting about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the journey home.

"They were all really nice, shaking our hands after the match - it was like playing a bunch of regular fellas.

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

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate veterans side, who secured the Premier Division title the previous campaign, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Joshua Myers
Joshua Myers

A seasoned traveler and writer passionate about uncovering hidden stories and sharing global experiences with readers.

Popular Post