Mitchell Cole

Mitchell James Cole (6 October 1985 – 30 November 2012) was an English footballer who played as a winger.

He was released in 2004 and joined Grays Athletic.

During his first season with Grays, the club won the Conference South title, as well as the FA Trophy.

He was released by West Ham in 2004.

Having struggled with injuries towards the end of his time at West Ham, Cole contemplated giving up playing football.

He put on a stone in weight and did not play for a year.

It was suggested to him to train with Essex club Grays Athletic in the summer of 2004.

He was subsequently offered a contract by Grays manager Mark Stimson.

He played regularly during the 2004–05 season and helped Grays achieve promotion from the Conference South to the Conference National, scoring five goals in 35 appearances.

He joined Southend United in 2005, spending a year-and-a-half at the club before signing for Stevenage Borough for an undisclosed fee in January 2007.

That season, Cole also started in the 2005 FA Trophy Final against Hucknall Town on 23 May 2005; a match in which Grays won on penalties.

Cole's performances for Grays meant he was signed by League One club Southend United on 13 July 2005.

He joined Southend for an undisclosed fee.

He made his Southend debut in the club's opening match of the 2005–06 season, starting in a 2–1 defeat against Port Vale at Roots Hall.

He stated similarities between Southend manager Steve Tilson and previous manager Stimson meant he settled in quickly at Southend.

He played 31 times for the club during the season.

He scored his only Southend goal in a 3–1 win over rivals Colchester United, and helped Southend achieve promotion to the Championship.

Having made two appearances for Southend in the opening month of the 2006–07 season, Cole felt he needed more game-time.

Whilst Tilson did not want him to go, he agreed to loan out Cole to League One club Northampton Town for a month.

Cole made his Northampton debut in a 3–1 defeat against Tranmere Rovers at Sixfields.

He scored his first goal for Northampton against Millwall in a 1–0 away victory on 24 September 2006.

His loan agreement at Northampton was extended for a further month on 11 October 2006, and he went on to play nine times during his time with the club.

He returned to Southend in November 2006, and made three more appearances for the club before his run was curtailed by injury.

He scored in the first ever competitive final at the new Wembley Stadium as Stevenage won the FA Trophy in May 2007; also winning the trophy again in May 2009.

Cole subsequently joined Conference Premier club Stevenage Borough for a five-figure fee on 26 January 2007.

The move reunited him with manager Mark Stimson, who had previously managed him at Grays.

He made his Stevenage debut as a substitute in a 1–1 draw at Stonebridge Road against Ebbsfleet United on 28 January 2007.

Cole went on to make 22 more appearances during the 2006–07 season, scoring three times; his first goal for the club coming in a 4–4 away draw against Forest Green Rovers on 9 April 2007.

Cole scored Stevenage's first goal in a 3–2 victory in the FA Trophy final against Kidderminster Harriers at Wembley Stadium in front of 53,262 spectators, a game in which Stevenage came from two goals behind to become the first team to win a competitive final at the new stadium.

Cole's goal came just after half-time; collecting Steve Morison's flick-on before finishing calmly.

At the start of the 2007–08 season, Cole suffered a knee injury in Stevenage's victory against Histon, which meant he missed the next six weeks of the season.

He scored two goals in 27 appearances during the season.

He helped Stevenage earn promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history during the 2009–10 campaign, finishing the season as Conference Premier champions.

In June 2010, Cole signed for League Two club Oxford United, playing six times before retiring from professional football in February 2011 due to a heart condition.

Cole was forced to retire from professional football in 2011 as a result of a deteriorating heart condition, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, that meant it was dangerous for him to continue playing competitive football.

Cole started his career in the academy at West Ham United.

Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Cole joined Stotfold and played twice for them.

He then spent time playing at Southern Football League clubs Hitchin Town and Biggleswade Town, before joining Arlesey Town in January 2012.

Born in London, Cole started his football career at Norwich City's centre of excellence, based in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.

When the centre was closed, Cole joined West Ham United's academy.