Despite decorated careers at the highest level, some former Premier League players just can’t give up on the beautiful game.
Wythenshawe FC are currently making headlines in the Cheshire Veterans Sunday Football League, having assembled an all-star squad for the 2025/26 season.
The club’s senior team play in the North West Counties League Premier Division – the ninth tier of English football – and have started the season in good form. However, it’s the veterans who are starting to capture the headlines.
The squad list for the current season contains a group of ex-pros who boast more than 1,800 Premier League appearances between them, including ex-England internationals Joleon Lescott and Emile Heskey.
At the weekend, former Newcastle United and Senegal striker Papiss Cisse scored all six goals as Wythenshawe eased past Collegiate Old Boys 6-2 to maintain their perfect record this season.
That win followed a 10-1 win over Radcliffe FC Old Boys, where all 10 goals were shared between ex-Burnley winger George Boyd (5), Lescott (1) and former Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland (4).
Wythenshawe FC have an over 35’s team that play Sunday League for them.
Some of the players included in the team are Papiss Cisse, Stephen Ireland, Emile Heskey, Maynor Figueroa and Oumar Niasse.
Imagine rocking up on a Sunday morning and seeing you’re facing these lot 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/9Qa2xUnGdx
— george (@StokeyyG2) October 21, 2025
Ireland also netted four in the 7-1 win over AFC Monton, with Lescott helping himself to a hat-trick. Also signed on are Danny Drinkwater, Oumar Niasse, and Maynor Figueroa.
Unsurprisingly, Wythenshawe lead the standings with maximum points after three games and a goal difference of +19.
You wouldn’t want to turn up to a Sunday League encounter with this lot nursing a hangover…
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