Meet the Sunday League team with 1,800 Premier League appearances

What’s the secret to enhancing an already outstanding veteran team that has clinched consecutive championships, including a league-cup double with 30 victories out of 32 matches?

Enlist a group of past professionals who have competed at the pinnacle of club and international soccer as you aim for additional trophies.

The Manchester team Wythenshawe AFC features an amateur veterans squad that includes nine previous Premier League players.

BBC Sport explores the Sunday league fantasy team in more detail.

Wythenshawe Vets Over-35s play out of south Manchester and compete in the Cheshire Vets League Premier Division.

This season, their roster features nine former Premier League players, totaling 1,801 appearances in the top tier.

This elite lineup also contains 222 Premier League goals and 325 international appearances.

Among them is Papiss Cisse, who netted 37 goals in 117 games for Newcastle United after his £9 million move from Bundesliga’s Freiburg in January 2012.

Cisse debuted for Wythenshawe during their latest home match against the reigning champions Collegiate Old Boys, scoring all six goals in a 6-2 triumph, including a first-half hat trick in just 32 minutes.

Wythenshawe’s lineup this season also includes notable former professionals such as England and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey, Hull and Burnley winger George Boyd, Everton striker Oumar Niasse, Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, Manchester City pair Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha, and Premier League champions Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater.

Together, these ex-top-flight athletes have amassed 15 significant trophies and transferred for combined fees nearing £123 million.

Ireland joined the team during pre-season this summer through his close friend and current Wythenshawe player Blake Norton, who then extended invitations to other former professionals who participate in a midweek nine-a-side game.

Former Senegalese forward Niasse, with 12 goals in 65 Premier League outings for Everton and a regular at their home matches, also made his debut against Collegiate OB – who sport Everton training kits as their uniforms.

«My mate Stephen Ireland said ‘come join us, it’s a blast’,» remarked Niasse.

«Then he mentioned we were facing a team from Liverpool, and I was shocked to see them dressed in Everton kits – I thought this isn’t right for me!

«When there’s still a passion for football and you know you can still perform, wherever the opportunity arises for play, what else would you do?

«The spectators are thrilled to watch, and to brighten someone’s day seeing us play and asking us questions – it’s more about the joy of having a place to play, coupled with a sense of organization.»

Given the squad’s strength at Wythenshawe, Niasse debuted as a full-back.

«It’s a bit unusual, but I enjoy running and getting involved – I’m not focusing too much on defense,» he added.

«I tell my center-back ‘I’m not staying back’ and that I’m just going to keep moving.»

«The movement is what I seek. It’s truly enjoyable.»

In addition to Cisse’s six goals in his debut, Ireland has scored eight times in three matches for Wythenshawe, while Boyd netted five on his first outing and Lescott, primarily a centre-back, claimed a hat-trick in a single match playing up front.

Wythenshawe leads the Premier Division with three victories from three and a goal difference of +19.

Paul Barrow, 38, who operates on the wing for Collegiate OB, contended with former Wigan defender Figueroa on Sunday – and had to clarify to his nine-year-old son who Heskey was.

Figueroa has represented Honduras in two World Cups and participated in over 200 Premier League games.

«News spread rapidly that they featured all these ex-Premier League players,» stated Barrow.

«I must admit I was a little starstruck going up against Figueroa.

«Even Emile [Heskey] got a run out, and he’s earned over 60 caps for England.

«We managed to hold our ground for about 20 minutes, but after a player was sent off we struggled.

«We haven’t stopped discussing it since – I was calling my mum and brother on the way back.

«They were all really friendly, shaking our hands post-game – it felt like playing against a bunch of normal guys.

«Now we’re eagerly awaiting the return encounter.»

Andy Kirby manages the Collegiate veterans team, who claimed the Premier Division title last season, alongside Paul Maguire.

«We took the lead and had a chance to extend it to 2-0, but once we had a player dismissed, we found ourselves under pressure and four rapid goals sealed our fate,» Kirby recounted.

«From where we started in local amateur football, to winning the league and reaching a County Cup final – this is outstanding for our players.

«I genuinely felt we could have lost by a narrow margin if we had retained our player on the field – and we are still confident we will win the league!»

Carl Barratt serves as the chairman of Wythenshawe AFC and became involved with the club 24 years ago when his son began playing on a junior team.

It has since grown from five squads to an organization with 70, incorporating two successful men’s and women’s senior teams competing in the North West Counties and National League respectively.

«We had 178 attendees here on Sunday – and that number is set to rise,» noted Barratt.

«The veterans squad has consistently performed well and had a fantastic season last year.

«The humor in it all is that these players have been worth millions and my wife has been sending them letters to organize their subscription payments for their fees.

«She approaches me and mentions ‘we have someone named Emile Heskey on board’ while we’re asking him for £15 weekly.»

Barratt has witnessed significant advancement at the club and believes that involving ex-Premier League players will positively influence the community.

«Wythenshawe is a small community of 110,000 individuals,» he added.

«The one unifying factor here is football.»