Former Oxford United player Mitchell Cole dead at 27

2:06pm Saturday 1st December 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Mark Taylor, Reporter. Please call me on (01865) 425411

Mitchell Cole at the Kassam when he retired Mitchell Cole at the Kassam when he retired

FORMER Oxford United player Mitchell Cole has died, the Football League has announced.

Mr Cole, 27, was forced to hang up his boots as a professional player in February last year following a heart attack.

The winger suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is an irregular thickness of the heart in certain areas.

Writing on its official Twitter feed, the Football League said: "We are sad to hear former Southend, Stevenage and Oxford United player Mitchell Cole has passed away.

“Our thoughts are with his family and friends."

Oxford United spokesman Chris Williams added: “Our players are devastated.”

Cole, who was married to the sister of England international Joe Cole, told the Oxford Mail after being forced to retire that he would be risking death if he were to play again.

“It’s hard to swallow at the minute,” he said.

“Football’s been my life. It’s all I’ve ever known.”

He quit as a professional for the U’s before returning to the non-League game.

Cole made just five appearances since joining the U’s from Stevenage in the summer of 2010.

It has been reported that Mr Cole decided to retire completely after watching Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba suffer a cardiac arrest in an FA Cup tie with Tottenham in March.

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Muamba was "dead" for 78 minutes before doctors saved his life.

The Professional Footballers’ Association joined the Football League in expressing their condolences, tweeting: "The PFA is deeply saddened by the loss of 27-year-old Mitchell Cole, our thoughts are with his friends and family."

  • If you wish to leave a tribute to Mitchell Cole, please make a comment below and we shall pass them on to the club. You can also email it to us.

Comments(16)

Mark L says...
2:11pm Sat 1 Dec 12

Sad day today, 27 is no age. I hope we have a minutes applause next week.

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DAWN DWYER says...
2:40pm Sat 1 Dec 12

R.I.P MITCHELL COLE....THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOUR FAMILY, AT THIS VERY, VERY SAD TIME...GOD BLESS!! xxx

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Tracer1999 says...
3:06pm Sat 1 Dec 12

Very sad news rip young man

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Matt Erlanger says...
3:35pm Sat 1 Dec 12

My condolences to the family. I also have this condition, but count myself lucky to be a "survivor" at nearly 50. Mitchell has been a supporter of the Cardiomyopathy Association (http://www.cardiomy
opathy.org) since learning of his diagnosis. Please visit the web site to learn more about this hidden killer and help raise awareness to prevent further untimely losses of active young people.

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WembleyYellows says...
3:38pm Sat 1 Dec 12

Mitchell Cole only played a few games for us, but, I remember telling my dad he looked like a player who would really benefit the club. Real tragedy losing anyone at 27. R.I.P Mitchell Cole.

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the wizard says...
5:12pm Sat 1 Dec 12

Local rivalry aside, on behalf of the vast majority who are decent guys at Swindon Town may I please be allowed to convey sincerest condolences at this terrible and tragic time, to the club and family. To lose one so young is very hard and somehow very unjust. May this young man rest in peace.

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northampton yellow says...
8:27pm Sat 1 Dec 12

Sad to hear this news 27 is no age and football was his life my thoughts go out to this family and friends r.i.p. My friend

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Mark L says...
9:40pm Sat 1 Dec 12

the wizard wrote:
Local rivalry aside, on behalf of the vast majority who are decent guys at Swindon Town may I please be allowed to convey sincerest condolences at this terrible and tragic time, to the club and family. To lose one so young is very hard and somehow very unjust. May this young man rest in peace.
Fair play to you The Wizard, one of yours has been making this into a joke on Facebook, but i think when a life is lost, our rivalry is irrelevant.

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BigAlBiker says...
10:18pm Sat 1 Dec 12

I watched Mitchell play for Oxford at Didcot in a reserve match a couple of years ago and he was a talented winger, shame he could not compete at a higher lever, RIP young man, you will not be forgotten by the mighty yellows.

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the wizard says...
11:31pm Sat 1 Dec 12

Mark L wrote:
the wizard wrote:
Local rivalry aside, on behalf of the vast majority who are decent guys at Swindon Town may I please be allowed to convey sincerest condolences at this terrible and tragic time, to the club and family. To lose one so young is very hard and somehow very unjust. May this young man rest in peace.
Fair play to you The Wizard, one of yours has been making this into a joke on Facebook, but i think when a life is lost, our rivalry is irrelevant.
Mark,

What can I say or do, sorry there is always one idiot who doesn't know the meaning of the word, respect.

Now is not the time for rivalry or banter, now is the time for remorse and memories of a young family man who choose football as his career. I just hope that OU supporters do not tar us all with the same brush. The vast majority of us are decent guys and would now only want what is best for the young family that has been so tragically left behind. I hope in time they can come to terms with their loss and find peace in their lives. My prayers will be for them tonight.

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jack smart says...
12:56pm Sun 2 Dec 12

THIS IS TRAGIC NEWS , MY HEARTFELT SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY

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GRB says...
9:49am Mon 3 Dec 12

Really feel for his family. RIP Mitchell.

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BigOx22 says...
10:25am Mon 3 Dec 12

RIP Mitchell Cole. Looks a decent player. Makes you think twice about life and how quickly it can change. Sympathy goes out to his family and friends and this hard time.

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BigOx22 says...
10:25am Mon 3 Dec 12

*looked a decent player

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Joe1 says...
11:40am Mon 3 Dec 12

Really tragic news. May he rest in peace.

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rosieposie55 says...
8:31pm Mon 3 Dec 12

My sympathies with his family and friends and all that knew him
Perhaps a Mitchell Cole trophy in his name best wishes from a Mum and grandmother

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