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.

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.

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

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

[4][6] 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.

[8] 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.

[19] Cole went on to make 22 more appearances during the 2006–07 season, scoring three times;[20] his first goal for the club coming in a 4–4 away draw against Forest Green Rovers on 9 April 2007.

[25] Cole scored 14 times during the 2008–09 season under manager Graham Westley, including the first competitive hat-trick of his career in a 4–2 victory away at Salisbury City.

[31] Cole played 42 games during the season, scoring four goals, as Stevenage earned promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club's history.

[39] In February 2011, Cole's career as a professional football ended prematurely when he was forced to retire due to a serious heart condition.

[40] In November 2010, Cole began to suffer from shortness of breath during training and matches, and was subsequently advised by a leading cardiologist to stop playing competitive football to avoid the risk of a serious heart episode.

[40] Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Cole played in a number of pre-season friendlies for Stotfold of the Spartan South Midlands League.

[41][42] Two days later, on 15 August 2011, Cole joined Hitchin Town on non-contract terms, who play in the Southern League Premier Division.

[43] He made his debut for the club on the same day, playing 65 minutes in Hitchin's 3–0 home victory against Hemel Hempstead Town.

[66][67][68][69][70][71] Cole's first club, Grays Athletic, released a statement — "He is best remembered for his rampaging runs down the left wing, and for scoring some spectacular goals".

[74] Grays Athletic held a minute's silence ahead of their game against Ware on the same day,[70] while Oxford United players wore black armbands during their 3–3 draw with Accrington Stanley.

[77] The following day, AFC Wimbledon players wore armbands with 'Mitch' written on them, during their televised FA Cup tie against Milton Keynes Dons.

[83] The following day, Cole was remembered, along with a number of sportspeople who died in 2012, during the 2012 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award ceremony.

[84] Stevenage chairman Phil Wallace announced that the club had planned a benefit match for Cole, to be played at Broadhall Way in May 2013.

[87] Among those playing in the match were brother-in-law Joe Cole, as well as James Collins, Andy Carroll, Gary Hooper, Matt Jarvis and Kevin Nolan.