West Ham United star Joe Cole spoke to press after Tuesday night’s Match for Mitch at the Lamex Stadium and he paid tribute to the Stevenage fans for making the night such a success.
"I would like to thank all the fans who turned up, my team-mates and everyone at Stevenage Football Club," said The Hammers’ No26.
Cole, along with West Ham teammates Andy Carroll, Mark Noble, Matt Jarvis, Kevin Nolan and James Collins, all played the first 45 minutes of the game for the Cole XI, and took a commanding 6-2 victory in at the break.
Speaking at half time, Cole continued: "The guys who came tonight are all big names. It is a long season and I cannot thank the lads enough.”
Mitchell, who passed away in December 2012 of the heart condition hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, was Cole’s brother-in-law.
Joe said: "It was a good send-off for Mitchell and we raised a lot of money for charity, which is the main thing. We all had a good night. I didn't manage to score but I will save that for the weekend!"
Cole said his brother-in-law was a fine player and that it was only his health issues that prevented him from being a Premier League star.
"I think Mitchell's ability was unquestioned. He was diagnosed with a heart condition at the age of 15 so it affected him from a young age. If he hadn't of had it, he would have been a top Premier League player.
"Anyone who worked with him will tell you he had a great left foot. He had a decent career in the lower leagues but he was doing it in second gear because he couldn't push his body as much as he wanted to.
"Technically, he had a great left foot, he was quick and he really was talented. The condition, affected him but he had a good career, he was a good family man and a great fella.
"We all loved him and it was great to see such a send-off for him."