Premier League nostalgia is in full swing at an unlikely ninth-tier club.
Wythenshawe FC Vets of the Cheshire Veterans Football League have wowed match-going fans with their star-studded line-up made up of former Premier League stars.
Papiss Cisse is one of the names to dust off his boots and turn out for Wythenshawe
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Papiss Cisse is one of the names to dust off his boots and turn out for WythenshaweCredit: Getty
Which players have lined up for Wythenshawe?
Ex-Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse has linked up with former Manchester City players Joleon Lescott, Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha in playing for the Manchester-based outfit.
Joining the quartet is ex-Burnley star George Boyd while Oumar Niasse, who once cost Everton £13.5million, is also on board.
And if that’s not enough, FA Cup winner Emile Heskey who clocked up 62 England caps has also featured for Wythenshawe.
The infusion of stars has had a startling effect on the team who sit nine points clear and 19 goals ahead of second-placed South Liverpool at the top of the table.
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Wythenshawe recently swept aside Radcliffe FC Old Boys 10-1 which saw Boyd score five times, Ireland get four while Lescott chipped in with the other.
And they were at it again on Sunday, winning 6-2 against Collegiate Old Boys at Hollyhedge Park with all six goals coming from Cisse.
The 40-year-old netted four times in the first half before adding a further two in the dying minutes of the match.
With a collective 822 Premier League appearances between them, the inclusion of the Premier League old guard is quickly proving to be a mismatch.
How did the team of ex-Premier League stars come together?
But like the growing number of spectators, Wythenshawe chairman Carl Barratt is enjoying the quality on show.
Speaking to talkSPORT on Tuesday, Barratt lifted the lid on how the new super team was formed.
“To be honest we had a very good side last year. The lads there won 30 out of 32 games the only ones we lost were the two County Cups. One of the lads who knows the manager really well started talking, he’s good friends with Stephen Ireland,” Barratt said.
“He said this year, let’s go for the two County Cups we didn't win and they started talking about it.
“In pre-season Papiss Cisse came down and Onuoha came down and started playing a few games.
“George Boyd is a Wythenshawe lad and he started playing pre-season and it’s just escalated and we’ve got nine signed on now, so two more and we’ve got a full eleven!
Asked about the recent addition of Heskey, Barratt added: “He came on for the last 15 minutes.
“It's funny because our president John Walker has a stand named after him and he’s been there from the start.
Burnley - George Boyd
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Boyd has been in good goalscoring form since arriving at Wythenshawe
Ex-Liverpool striker Heskey recently made a cameo appearance for the club
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Ex-Liverpool striker Heskey recently made a cameo appearance for the clubCredit: Getty Images - Getty
“I looked across at one point and saw Emile Heskey wearing the shirt under the John Walker stand. That was like one of the best memories I’m ever going to have. Unbelievable.
“It’s mad we’ve got Lescott as well up front for us. Ireland is in centre midfield controlling everything.
“You look at some of the balls. A couple of times the ball pings from one side to the other and is brought down first time and you can actually hear the crowd.
“On Sunday we had 178 people watching a Sunday vets team and I’m sure it's going to grow.
“It’s just phenomenal to watch it.”
How have Wythenshawe's opponents reacted to it?
While Wythenshawe are very much living the dream, the same cannot be said of the chasing pack of team aiming to dethrone them.
Two-time Premier League title winning defender Lescott is now playing... as a striker!
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Two-time Premier League title winning defender Lescott is now playing... as a striker!Credit: AFP
And while the abundance of experience is evidently proving pivotal in the title race, Barratt says it's all in good nature with few complaints from opposing teams… so far.
“No, it’s just a bit of fun,” said Barratt. “If you’d watched the game on Sunday it was a very equal game.
“They went down to ten players but the quality in the Vets League is getting higher and higher.
“People don’t want to stop playing at 35 or 36 so the standard is very high in the Vets League so this is just adding to it and I know there’s a few other clubs that have got ex-pros playing for them as well.”
And their recruitment drive might not be over just yet with Barratt teasing further big names at the club.
“I spoke to Stephen Ireland and he said, 'mate we’ve got a few more lined up'. We can’t say who that is,” said Barratt.
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“We’ve got an established team and we can’t forget how good the team was prior to all these guys coming.
“Bu all the other lads on the sidelines are there enjoying it too.”