Introduce this Sunday Division Squad Boasting Nearly Two Thousand Premier League Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The bench for the team Veterans in a six-two win versus their opponents on 19 October (from left to right) - Oumar Niasse, another, a teammate, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you boost a stellar veteran side who have secured back-to-back titles, including a double triumph with 30 wins from 32 matches?

Bring in a raft of ex- pro players who have played at the highest tier of club and international football as you target more silverware.

A Manchester team boasts an amateur veterans squad with 9 former Premier League footballers in their current squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Scores, Three Hundred Twenty-Five International Caps

Wythenshawe Veterans Over 35s are situated in south the city and play in the Cheshire Vets League Top Tier.

Their lineup this season boasts nine former top-flight footballers, with a total over 1,800 elite appearances.

The star-studded team also contains 222 Premier League goals and 325 global caps.

The squad feature one forward, who notched thirty-seven scores in 117 appearances for his former club after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side Freiburg in 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their most recent home match versus reigning title holders their rivals and scored all six scores in a six-two win - featuring a half-hour opening period hat-trick.

The squad for this campaign also features ex- pros such as England and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former Premier League footballers have claimed 15 significant trophies and moved for total transfer fees of about £123m.

Well-Known Figures and International Players

Stephen Ireland in action
He won 6 Irish caps, scoring 4 scores

Stephen Ireland started turning out for the team in preseason this season through good friend and present team teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then asked additional former professionals, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side match, to join in.

Former Senegalese striker Niasse, who netted 12 scores in sixty-five top-flight games for Everton and even now goes to their home games, also made his debut against the opposition - who are located in Liverpool and wear an Blue training kit as their uniform.

Oumar Niasse playing for Everton
Oumar Niasse featured for Everton from 2016 and 2020

"A friend Stephen Ireland said 'come and play, it's a laugh'," said Niasse.

"Then he told me we were facing a side from Liverpool and the shock I had when I saw them wearing Blue shirts - I thought this is wrong for me!

"When you still enjoy football and you know you can still do it, anywhere you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"Those spectators who turn up and watch are pleased and to make a moment if they watch us competing there and to pose us questions - it's more like the pleasure of us getting a place we can enjoy football, with organisation of course."

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

"It's a bit different but then, I enjoy sprinting and just go 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 attacking.

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

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

Dreamlike' Experience

Along with Cisse's 6 goals on debut, Ireland has netted eight in 3 appearances for the side, while George Boyd scored 5 on his first match and Joleon Lescott, a defender by position, scored a triple in one game up front.

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

Paul Barrow, 38, who features on the flank for Collegiate OB, came up against former Wigan defender Figueroa on the weekend - and had to tell his young boy who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at 2 global tournaments for Honduras, in addition to playing in more than two hundred top-flight games.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had these former top-flight players," said the player.

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

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

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

"We really haven't ceased chatting about it - I was phoning my mother and sibling on the journey home.

"The opponents were all really nice, shaking our hands after the game - it was like playing a group of regular fellas.

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

'We'll Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition vets team, who secured the Premier Tier championship last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"We scored one-nil ahead and had a

Ronald Robinson
Ronald Robinson

Elara Vance is a seasoned gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering industry trends and reviewing AAA titles.