Introduction
Jake Stanley Cole (born 11 September 1985) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for National League club Aldershot Town. He previously played for Queens Park Rangers, Hayes, AFC Wimbledon, Farnborough Town, Oxford United, Barnet, Plymouth Argyle and Woking.
Career
Cole was born in Hammersmith, London. He was the second choice goalkeeper at Queens Park Rangers for a number of years, being understudy to Nick Culkin, Chris Day, Paul Jones, Simon Royce and Lee Camp, but was praised by John Gregory as being a model professional. He played for Hayes, AFC Wimbledon, Farnborough Town, Oxford United and Barnet on loan during his six years there. Towards the end of the 2006–07 season he became first choice goalkeeper after Lee Camp was recalled from his loan spell to Derby County.
Cole had been given the number 12 jersey for the 2007–08 season, indicating that John Gregory would be signing a number one keeper before the start of the season, with rumours focusing on the permanent signing of Lee Camp. Camp was then signed therefore limiting Cole's first team opportunities; however Cole continued to impress for Rangers' second string with manager John Gregory saying in 2007, "I have been impressed by Jake's overall attitude and ability. He is a fantastic understudy to Lee Camp."
Cole slipped further down the pecking order at QPR following the signing of Radek Černý in the summer of 2008. He was loaned to the Conference National club Oxford United for three months on 11 July 2008. In March 2009 he joined Barnet on loan.
He was released by QPR on 19 May 2009. However, he was soon snapped up by Barnet on a one-year contract on 6 July 2009. He left Barnet at the end of the 2010–11 season. He spent time on trial with Gillingham and Plymouth Argyle in July 2011. Cole agreed a two-year contract with Argyle later that month. After leaving Plymouth Argyle, Jake went on to sign for Conference Premier club Woking for the 2014–15 season.
On 8 June 2016, Cole joined local rivals Aldershot Town on a one-year contract.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Queens Park Rangers | 2003–04 | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004–05 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06 | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07 | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Hayes (loan) | 2003–04 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 17 | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | |||||
| AFC Wimbledon (loan) | 2004–05 | Isthmian League Division One | 6 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Farnborough Town (loan) | 2004–05 | Conference National | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Oxford United (loan) | 2008–09 | Conference Premier | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| Barnet (loan) | 2008–09 | League Two | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | |||
| Barnet | 2009–10 | League Two | 46 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 0 |
| 2010–11 | League Two | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| Total | 87 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 97 | 0 | ||
| Plymouth Argyle | 2011–12 | League Two | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0 |
| 2012–13 | League Two | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | |
| 2013–14 | League Two | 20 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| Total | 91 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 103 | 0 | ||
| Woking | 2014–15 | Conference Premier | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| 2015–16 | National League | 44 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | 49 | 0 | ||
| Total | 63 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | 74 | 0 | |||
| Aldershot Town | 2016–17 | National League | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
| Career total | 313 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 351 | 0 | ||
Honours
Individual
- Aldershot Town Player of the Year: 2016–17