Sunday League team full of ex-Premier League stars steamrolling all opposition

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Premier League stars Joleon Lescott, Nedum Onuoha, George Boyd and Stephen Ireland are lighting up the Cheshire Veterans Football League despite retiring from professional football. The quartet have been lining up for Wythenshawe FC in recent weeks, showing that age is just a number as they steamroll their opponents.

This weekend, former Peterborough United and Burnley attacker, Boyd scored five in a 10-1 win against Radcliffe FC Old Boys. Also on the scoresheet was ex-England defender, Lescott, in a 45-minute cameo for the stopper - who now features as a goalscoring striker.

Ireland, meanwhile, chipped in with four goals to add to his tally in the division. It comes just a week after a 7-1 win over AFC Monton where the 40-year-old scored four with his former Manchester City teammate, Lescott, netting a hat-trick.

Speaking on All Out Football's In The Mixer podcast , he said: "Over 35s, I'm a striker, 10k I did yesterday (running stats in the game).

"Two poachers goals to be fair, I recognised when the danger was and the other one, I forced the error. For the level, I can press quite intensely, the defender went to pass back, hit it short and I went around the goalie.

"I just enjoy being able to run around."

Legendary sports commentator Martin Tyler added: "This is an exclusive, this is something that should be making headline news: 'Joleon Lescott hat-trick'."

Images and news have begun to filter through on social media regarding the influx of top-flight experience in the Cheshire Vets League which features the likes of Collegiate Old Boys, South Liverpool , Broadheath Central, Parklands, Old Stretfordians Gregorians and AFC Monton.

One tweet which did the rounds read: "A few familiar faces playing for Wythenshawe Vets this morning," accompanied by a screenshot that read: "The vets team had signed the following players, so definitely worth popping down: Steven Ireland, Joelon Lescott, George Boyd, Danny Drinkerwater."

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Another user tweeted: "Wythenshawe FC Vets. Wow. What a team and well worth a watch Sunday morning."

Between them, Onuoha, Boyd, Lescott and Ireland have a combined 822 Premier League appearances. Ireland, Boyd and Lescott boast goal returns so far and the trio all sit in the top-scorers charts in the division, with a whopping 17 goals between them in three outings.

They top the division after two games and will be looking to continue their impressive start against Collegiate Old Boys with both sides putting their unbeaten run on the line.

It isn't the only case of Premier League icons dropping down the levels to play for their local teams. In July 2024, Lescott's former teammate Gareth Barry hit the headlines after signing for Mid Sussess Football League side Hurstpierpoint in the 12th tier of the English football pyramid.

Darron Gibson has also turned out for Wythenshawe FC's senior squad in the ninth tier, North West Counties Premier Division, in a 3-1 win over AFC Liverpool in September for his only appearance so far.