Discover the Sunday Division Squad Boasting Nearly Two Thousand Premier League Matches

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

How do you boost a excellent veteran side that have secured back-to-back titles, featuring a double triumph boasting 30 wins from 32 matches?

Recruit a group of former professionals that have competed at the top level of club and international football as you target more honors.

One Manchester side has an amateur veterans squad with nine ex- Premier League footballers in their present roster.

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

The team Vets Over 35s are situated in southern the city and compete in the Cheshire-based Veterans League Premier Division.

The squad list this campaign boasts 9 former Premier League players, with a collective nearly 1,800 Premier League matches.

The high-profile roster also contains 222 top division goals and 325 international appearances.

They feature one forward, who netted 37 goals in over 100 appearances for Newcastle United after moving to them for £9m from German league side Freiburg in 2012.

He made his debut for Wythenshawe in their last home-field game against defending title holders Collegiate Old Boys and netted every one of the six scores in a 6-2 victory - including a 32-minute opening period triple.

Wythenshawe's squad for this season also features former professionals such as England and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City duo Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight title victors Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Collectively, the former top-flight footballers have secured fifteen significant trophies and transferred for combined transfer fees of approximately £123 million.

Household Names and International Stars

Stephen Ireland in action
Stephen Ireland won six Republic of Ireland caps, scoring 4 scores

Ireland started playing for the team in pre-season this season through close mate and current Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the former Irish midfielder then asked other ex-pros, who all play in a weekly nine-a-side game, to join in.

Former Senegal forward Niasse, who netted twelve goals in 65 Premier League games for the Toffees and still goes to their home games, also made his first appearance versus Collegiate OB - who are based in the city and use an Blue training kit as their strip.

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

"A friend Stephen Ireland told me 'come and have a game, it's enjoyable'," said the striker.

"Then he informed me we were playing a side from the city and the surprise I had when I saw them wearing Everton shirts - I say this is wrong for me!

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

"The fans who come and see are happy and to make someone's moment if they watch us playing there and to ask us queries - it's really about the pleasure of us having somewhere we can enjoy football, with structure of course."

Such is the squad depth at the club, Niasse had his debut at defender.

"That's a little unusual but then, I enjoy sprinting and just move forward - I'm not defending that much," he said.

"I warn my defender 'I'm not hanging back' and that I'm just going to continue running.

"The movement is what I'm looking for. It's good fun."

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

Dreamlike' Scenario

In addition to the forward's six goals on his first game, Ireland has netted eight in three appearances for the side, while Boyd hit five on his debut appearance and Lescott, a centre-half by trade, scored a triple in one game as a striker.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Division with three wins from three and a goal difference of +19.

One opponent, 38, who features on the wing for Collegiate OB, faced ex- Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to explain his young son who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at two World Cups for his country, in addition to featuring in over two hundred top-flight matches.

"The news was spreading like a rumor they had all these former top-flight players," remarked the player.

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

"Also Heskey came on and he's got over 60 English appearances.

"Our side held our own for a good twenty minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was tough.

"Our group really have not ceased chatting about it - I was calling my mum and sibling on the journey home.

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

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

'We'll Still Win the League'

Andy Kirby manages the opposition veterans side, who won the Premier Tier championship last season, along with Paul Maguire.

"We scored 1-0 ahead and had a

Robert Phillips
Robert Phillips

A passionate gamer and tech writer with over a decade of experience covering industry trends and game analysis.