Mitchell Cole: Retired from football at only 25
Former Shrimpers winger Mitchell Cole has been advised by a leading cardiologist to stop playing competitive football and avoid any risk of a serious heart problem.
25-year-old Cole started feeling short of breath while playing back in November, something which was first put down to his general fitness.
However, medical tests have identified significant worsening to the heart reaching a level which would put his health in danger should he continue to turn out for League Two rivals Oxford United.
Mitchell discovered he had the low-risk heart condition when aged 17 at West Ham but it's remained of low concern throughout his career until now.
He signed for the U's last June from Stevenage, when he passed the club's medical without any problems.
Both Oxford and the player have been working closely with the Professional Footballer's Association throughout the process and will come to an agreement in regard to the remainder of the contract in line with the FA guidelines.
At Roots Hall Mitchell will be remembered for his goal on a sunny August Bank Holiday Monday 2005 against Colchester United, that along with the Goat's brace saw off the Farmers 3-1 and was the first of the record eight successive wins ending in the League one Championship the following May.
www.oufc.co.uk made the announcement: "While both the club and player are seriously disappointed at this diagnosis, we are also relieved his deterioration was identified prior to anything more serious happening. The club and Mitchell have been working closely with the PFA throughout this process and will come to an agreement in regard to the remainder of his contract in line with FA guidelines in these matters. The club wishes Mitchell the best for the future and will support him fully through this transition."
The Cole Files
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mitchell James Cole[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 6 October 1985 (1985-10-06) | ||
| Place of birth | London, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2] | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001-2003 | Norwich City | ||
| 2003-2004 | West Ham United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004-2005 | Grays Athletic | 35 | (5) |
| 2005-2007 | Southend United | 33 | (1) |
| 2006 | → Northampton Town (loan) | 8 | (1) |
| 2007-2010 | Stevenage | 121 | (20) |
| 2010-2011 | Oxford United | 4 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2005-2009 | England C | 14 | (7) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 14 November 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 03:17, 14 August 2009 (UTC) | |||
(Player info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_Cole)