Meet the Sunday Division Club With 1,800 Premier League Appearances

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

What do you improve a stellar experienced squad that have claimed consecutive championships, featuring a league-cup double boasting thirty victories from thirty-two matches?

Recruit a group of ex- professionals who have performed at the top tier of club football and global soccer as you pursue additional trophies.

A Manchester side has an non-professional veterans team with 9 former top-flight players in their current squad.

222 Top Division Goals, 325 Global Appearances

The team Veterans Over-35s are based in southern Manchester and play in the Cheshire-based Vets Division Premier Tier.

Their squad list this season includes 9 ex- Premier League footballers, with a total 1,801 Premier League appearances.

This high-profile squad also boasts over 220 top division scores and 325 international appearances.

The squad feature one forward, who netted thirty-seven scores in over 100 games for Newcastle United after signing for them for nine million pounds from Bundesliga side Freiburg in 2012.

He made his debut for the team in their most recent home game versus reigning champions their rivals and netted every one of the six scores in a 6-2 victory - including a half-hour opening period hat-trick.

The squad for this season also includes former professionals such as English and Anfield forward Emile Heskey, Hull City and Burnley FC winger George Boyd, Everton forward Oumar Niasse, Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa, City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha and top-flight championship winners Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, the ex- top-flight footballers have secured fifteen significant honors and transferred for total transfer fees of approximately £123m.

Household Names and Global Players

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

Stephen Ireland started playing for the side in preseason this season through close friend and current Wythenshawe teammate Blake Norton, and the ex- Republic of Ireland player then invited additional former professionals, who all compete in a midweek nine-a-side game, to participate.

Ex- Senegal forward Oumar Niasse, who netted 12 scores in 65 Premier League matches for Everton and still attends their home games, also made his debut against the opposition - who are based in the city and wear an Blue warm-up gear as their uniform.

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

"A mate Stephen Ireland told me 'join and have a game, it's good fun'," said the striker.

"After that he informed me we were playing a side from Liverpool and the shock I had when I saw them wearing Blue shirts - I say this is strange for me!

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

"Those spectators who turn up 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 joy of us having somewhere we can play, with structure of course."

So great is the squad depth at the club, Niasse made his debut at full-back.

"That's a little unusual but then, I love running and just move inside - I'm not defending that much," he said.

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

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

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

Unreal Feeling

In addition to the forward's 6 goals on debut, Stephen Ireland has netted 8 in three appearances for the side, while Boyd scored five on his first match and Lescott, a centre-half by position, scored a triple in one match up front.

Wythenshawe are leading of the Premier Division with 3 victories from 3 and a GD of plus nineteen.

One opponent, thirty-eight, who plays on the wing for the opposition, came up against former Latics defender Maynor Figueroa on Sunday - and had to tell his young son who Emile Heskey was.

He has played at two global tournaments for his country, in as well as playing in more than 200 Premier League games.

"It was going round like a rumor they had all these former top-flight players," said Barrow.

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

"Even Heskey got on and he's got over 60 England caps.

"We competed well for a solid 20 minutes but then we had a man sent off and it was hard.

"Our group literally haven't stopped chatting about it - I was phoning my mother and sibling on the way home.

"They were all friendly, shaking our hands after the match - it was like playing a bunch of normal guys.

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

We Will Still Take the Title'

The manager coaches the opposition veterans side, who won the Premier Division championship last season, together with Paul Maguire.

"Our team went 1-0 ahead and had a

Wendy Johnson
Wendy Johnson

A wellness coach and lifestyle writer passionate about holistic health and mindful living, sharing practical advice for modern life.