Mitchell Nelson

DOB: 31st August 1989

Position: Defender

Season of first appearance: 2013/14

Season of last appearance: 2013/14

Full Appearances: 19

Substitute: 0

Goals: 2

Also played for:

Tooting & Mitcham, Lincoln City, Eastbourne Borough, Eastleigh, Sutton United, Dulwich Hamlet, Welling United, Tonbridge Angels, Cray Wanderers, Lewes, Cray Valley

Player Profile:

Defender Mitchell, who was a student at Lewisham College, signed as an apprentice at Colchester United in the summer of 2007 and played in the youth and reserve teams during his two-year programme.

A reserve team player during his first year as an apprentice, Nelson’s fortunes changed when Paul Lambert became the Us first-team manager and he was released.

Nelson came to the attention of Tooting manager Billy Smith who converted the full-back into his regular central defender in the Isthmian Premier Division. His good form in 2009/10 saw offers of trials from Reading and Crystal Palace. It was while on these trials that he was spotted by Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe who, in summer 2010, offered him a three-year deal at Dean Court. He had a loan spells in 2010/11 at Lincoln City and Eastbourne Borough, both of the Blue Square Premier. However, he failed to make a first-team appearance for the Cherries and his contract was terminated by mutual consent in December 2011.

Mitchell joined Eastleigh of the Blue Square South on leaving Bournemouth. However, Mitchell’s time with the Spitfires ended in acrimony when, having been offered a new deal in May 2013, he then announced on social media that he was a free agent. Manager Richard Hill had driven to Beaconsfield Services to meet him and knew nothing of Nelson’s tweet until his son rang to tell him on his way home.

Mitchell started the 2013/14 season at Sutton United but joined newly affluent Margate in January 2014. He scored on his debut, a 4-1 win at Bromley against Cray Wanderers on 4.2.2014.

Mitchell ended up playing in goal in a 2-0 defeat at Canvey Island on 29.3.2014 after regular keeper Nikki Bull was sent off and there was no sub goalie on the bench. Bull’s foul had resulted in a penalty late in the game and Mitchell was unable to keep the spot kick out of the net.

Mitchell started the 2014/15 pre-season as Margate’s first choice right-back but was stretchered off with a knee injury in Margate's opening friendly at home to AFC Wimbledon. 

Manager Terry Brown said: "Mitchell went to A&E and, while everything is still in place, there is a lot of damage. We definitely heard something crack. The knee is still massive and swollen and they couldn't take a scan on it. He is now booked in next Monday and has just got to rest. Mitchell is our first choice right-back and it is a blow."

He was out for nearly the whole season with an ACL injury. He next featured in April 2015 when he managed three appearances, two as sub.

He left Hartsdown in summer 2015 and spent 2015/16 at Dulwich Hamlet. At the end of the season he signed for Welling United, joining Tonbridge on loan in November 2016 where he remained until the end of the 2016/17 season.

Mitchell’s next destination was Cray Wanderers in 2017/18 and he was part of the Wanderers side that won the Isthmian League South East Division title in 2018/19.

In September 2019, he was playing for Cray at Bishop’s Stortford when it was alleged a home supporter racially abused Mitchell, which resulted in a police investigation.

In 2021, he joined Isthmian Premier side Lewes and, in December 2022, signed for Cray Valley. Briefly, in 2024, he was a coach at SCEFL side Glebe. He later became an academy coach at Southampton.