Introduce this Sunday League Team With Over 1,800 Top-Flight Games

Wythenshawe Vets bench during a match
This substitutes for Wythenshawe Vets in a 6-2 victory versus Collegiate Old Boys on October 19th (left to right) - Oumar Niasse, Papiss Cisse, Marcel Edwards, Blake Norton, Maynor Figueroa, Dean Warburton and Emile Heskey

What do you improve a stellar experienced side that have secured consecutive titles, including a double triumph with thirty wins from thirty-two games?

Bring in a collection of ex- pro players who have competed at the top level of club and international soccer as you pursue further honors.

A Manchester club fields an amateur veterans squad with 9 ex- Premier League players in their active roster.

222 Premier League Goals, 325 Global Caps

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

Their roster this campaign features 9 former top-flight footballers, with a combined 1,801 elite games.

The star-studded squad also boasts over 220 top division goals and 325 international appearances.

The squad feature Papiss Cisse, who scored 37 scores in over 100 games for his former club after signing for them for £9m from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg in 2012.

He made his first appearance for Wythenshawe in their most recent home-field match versus reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys and netted all six scores in a six-two win - including a 32-minute first-half triple.

Wythenshawe's roster for this campaign also includes ex- professionals such as English and Anfield striker Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan Athletic full-back Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and Premier League title winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former top-flight footballers have won 15 significant honors and moved for total transfer sums of approximately £123 million.

Famous Names and Global Players

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won 6 Irish appearances, scoring 4 goals

Stephen Ireland began turning out for the side during pre-season this season through good mate and present Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, and the ex- Irish player then asked additional ex-pros, who all play in a midweek small-sided game, to participate.

Former Senegal striker Oumar Niasse, who scored 12 goals in sixty-five Premier League matches for the Toffees and even now goes to their home games, also made his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are located in the city and wear an Everton warm-up gear as their strip.

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

"My mate Stephen said 'come and play, it's enjoyable'," commented Niasse.

"After that he told me we were playing a team from the city and the shock I had when I noticed them sporting Everton shirts - I say this is strange for me!

"When you still enjoy the game and you feel you can still do it, wherever you can kick a ball, what are you going to choose?

"Those people who come and see are pleased and to make a moment if they watch us competing there and to ask us queries - it's really about the joy of us having a place we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the strength in depth at the club, Niasse had his debut at full-back.

"It's a little different but then, I enjoy running and just move forward - I'm not defending that much," he said.

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

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

Maynor Figueroa in action
Former Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa is turning out for the team

Dreamlike' Feeling

In addition to the forward's six goals on debut, Ireland has scored eight in three games for the side, while Boyd hit 5 on his debut appearance and Joleon Lescott, a centre-half by position, notched a triple in one game up front.

Wythenshawe are top of the Top Tier with 3 wins from 3 and a GD of +19.

Paul Barrow, thirty-eight, who features on the flank for the opposition, faced former Latics full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his nine-year-old son who Emile Heskey was.

He has appeared at two World Cups for Honduras, in as well as playing in over 200 Premier League games.

"It was spreading like a rumor they had these ex-Premier League players," said Barrow.

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

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

"We held our own for a good twenty mins but then we had a player dismissed and it was hard.

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

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

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

We Will Still Take the League'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition veterans side, who won the Top Tier championship the previous campaign, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team scored one-nil up and had a

Rhonda Hall
Rhonda Hall

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