Meet the Sunday League Squad Boasting Over 1,800 Top-Flight Matches

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
The substitutes for Wythenshawe Veterans during a six-two triumph versus their opponents on October 19th (from left to right) - one player, another, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

How can you improve a excellent experienced team who have claimed back-to-back championships, including a league-cup double with thirty victories from thirty-two matches?

Sign a collection of former professionals that have competed at the highest level of club football and global soccer as you aim for additional silverware.

One Manchester team fields an non-professional vets squad with 9 former top-flight players in their present squad.

Two Hundred Twenty-Two Top Division Goals, Three Hundred Twenty-Five Global Caps

The team Vets Over-35s are located in south the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Top Tier.

Their lineup this season boasts 9 former Premier League players, with a collective 1,801 top-flight appearances.

The elite roster also includes 222 top division goals and 325 international appearances.

The squad include one forward, who scored 37 goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for £9m from German league side Freiburg in 2012.

He had his first appearance for the team in their most recent home game versus reigning champions their rivals and netted every one of the six goals in a six-two win - featuring a half-hour opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's squad for this campaign also includes former pros such as England and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley midfielder George Boyd, Toffees 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.

In total, the ex- Premier League players have secured 15 major trophies and moved for total transfer fees of around £123 million.

Household Names and Global Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland earned six Republic of Ireland appearances, scoring 4 goals

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the team in pre-season this summer through close friend and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then invited additional former professionals, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side match, to join in.

Ex- Senegal forward Niasse, who scored twelve scores in sixty-five top-flight games for Everton and still goes to their home games, also had his debut against Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"My friend Stephen Ireland told me 'come and have a game, it's a laugh'," commented the striker.

"Then he told me we were facing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I noticed them sporting Everton kits - I say this is strange for me!

"When you still love football and you feel you can still play, anywhere you can play, what are you going to do?

"Those fans who turn up and see are happy and to make someone's day if they see us playing there and to ask us queries - it's more like the joy of us getting somewhere we can play, with organisation of course."

So great is the bench strength at the club, he had 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 tell my defender 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to keep attacking.

"The running is what I'm seeking. It's enjoyable."

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

'Surreal Scenario

In addition to the forward's six scores on his first game, Ireland has scored eight in three appearances for Wythenshawe, while Boyd scored 5 on his debut match and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a hat-trick in one game up front.

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

One opponent, 38, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, faced former Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his nine-year-old boy who Emile Heskey was.

Figueroa has played at two global tournaments for his country, in as well as featuring in more than 200 top-flight games.

"The news was going round like wildfire they had these ex-Premier League players," said Barrow.

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

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

"Our side competed well for a good 20 minutes but then we had a player sent off and it was tough.

"We really haven't stopped talking about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the way home.

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

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

We Will Still Take the Title'

Andy Kirby coaches the opposition vets team, who secured the Premier Division title the previous campaign, together with Paul Maguire.

"We went 1-0 ahead and had a

Michael Robinson
Michael Robinson

A passionate historian and travel writer specializing in Italian medieval architecture and cultural heritage.