Dan Church

The ex-Southend United and Stevenage Borough midfielder was forced to retire from professional football because of a heart condition last February.

Despite retiring from the sport, he made numerous appearances for non-league club Arlesey Town. However Cole decided to completely stop playing after seeing Bolton Wanderer’s Fabrice Muamba collapse at White Hart Lane in March this year. Hundreds of supporters have shown their appreciation on social networking sites as Facebook and Twitter.

The Football League have also sent their condolences by tweeting; “We are sad to hear former Southend, Stevenage and Oxford player Mitchell Cole has passed away. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

On behalf of myself, Rage Online and Oxford United fans, we send our condolences to Mitchell Cole’s family.

R.I.P