Striker dedicates his goal to former team-mate
Jack Midson has revealed that his FA Cup equaliser in front of a live TV audience meant so much to him after he dedicated the goal to the memory of his friend Mitchell Cole.
Speaking to Dons Player immediately after yesterday’s 2-1 defeat at Milton Keynes, Midson was quick to remember his former Oxford United team-mate, who passed away two days earlier due to a deteriorating heart condition.
During the 2010/11 season at Oxford, Midson played alongside Cole, before the latter was forced to retire from the game last year after suffering a heart attack.With club skipper Mat Mitchel-King having also lost his mother recently, Midson said yesterday’s second round FA Cup tie was an emotional occasion for the Wimbledon pair.
Speaking to Dons Player, Midson said: “The goal meant a lot to me because my friend Mitchell Cole died. I know that Mat’s mother also passed away recently so we had white armbands on during the match for those reasons.
“We gave it a good go and our fans were brilliant as they turned up in their numbers and made so much noise. I also respect the decisions of the supporters who did not turn up too. I hope we never let them all down.”
Though deflated by the late winner that knocked Wimbledon out of the FA Cup after such a brave performance, the striker says this is not a time for the players to feel sorry for themselves.
“It was hard not to get caught up with everything that has happened, particularly with the size of the game and the media interest,” Midson added. “We are obviously disappointed, but the game has gone now and we are out of the FA Cup. We have to lift ourselves now because we have a lot to do in the league. Our league position is not good enough and there is no point hiding that. We need to take the positives from this game into Barnet, which is a six-pointer for us. That is a must-win game and we will give it a good go on Saturday.”
The full video interview with Jack Midson can be viewed on Dons Player.