John Mitchell was a footballer who played as a full-back with Doncaster Rovers, Newton Heath LYR and Bolton Wanderers in the late 19th century.
[3] At the beginning of the 1883–84 season, he was made team captain, replacing the club's founder, Albert Jenkins, and was present in the side until Doncaster played Newton Heath LYR in a 2–2 draw on 7 February 1885.
[4][5] John Mitchell made his League and Club debut on 8 September 1888, playing at full-back, at Pike's Lane, then home of Bolton Wanderers.
[6][7] When Mitchell played at full-back on 15 September 1888 against Burnley, he was approximately 27 years and 123 days old; that made him, on that second weekend of league football, Bolton Wanderers' oldest player.
[11] Mitchell was recorded in the 1891 United Kingdom census as 29 years of age, born in Doncaster, and living at 19 Durham Street, Newton Heath with his 24-year-old wife Bertha and a four-year-old daughter, Ada.