Craig Farrell

Craig Wayne Farrell (5 December 1982 – 30 May 2022) was an English professional footballer who played as a forward in the Football League for Carlisle United.

Early life Craig Wayne Farrell was born on 5 December 1982 in Middlesbrough, Cleveland,

Club career Early career Farrell played for local teams Cleveland Juniors and Marton Boys, before joining the youth system of hometown club Middlesbrough, who he supported as a boy, at the age of eight. Following a successful loan spell at Carlisle, Farrell signed for the club permanently on a three-year contract in November for a fee that could have risen to £50,000 depending on appearances. He was placed on Carlisle's transfer list in November 2003 as part of manager Paul Simpson's clear-out, although Farrell said he was prepared to wait patiently to earn a regular place in the first team. He was released by Carlisle in May 2005.

Farrell signed for Conference National club Exeter City on 5 August 2005 on a one-year contract. Soon after joining Exeter, Farrell said he felt the club had the belief and the right kind of players to get promoted, saying: "The players are confident, and we have a really good side here. It's very similar to the Carlisle United side of last year which I got promoted with." He was released by Exeter in May 2006 after scoring eight goals in 45 appearances in the 2005–06 season. He scored his first goal for York in a 2–2 home draw with Southport on 23 September 2006. York's manager Billy McEwan set Farrell a target of 15 goals for the 2006–07 season during February 2007. He played through the last two months of the season with torn muscle fibres in his thigh. After finishing the season with 10 goals in 51 appearances

He started the 2007–08 season playing as a right winger, and after making seven appearances was unable to feature for over a month due to poor form and a thigh problem. After a struggle to regain fitness, Farrell made his return after coming on as a 69th-minute substitute against Southern League Division One Midlands team Rushall Olympic in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup and proceeded to score the third fastest hat-trick in York's history and provide an assist for a fourth goal. Following this, he was voted as player of the round for the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup. He signed a new contract with York in May 2008.

Farrell scored a goal and provided two assists during a 3–3 draw away to Stevenage Borough in October 2008 after playing as a striker alongside Onome Sodje, which he hoped would see him play in that position on further occasions. Conference North club Gateshead attempted to sign Farrell on loan in January 2009 for the remainder of the 2008–09 season, but he rejected this offer, saying he was not interested in moving down a division. On 31 January 2009, he joined York's Conference Premier rivals Oxford United on loan until the end of the season. He made his debut a day later in a 2–1 victory over Lewes. His first goal came in the following game against Barrow, after being assisted by Lewis Haldane, in a game that finished 3–0. He finished the spell with two goals in 15 appearances. Farrell missed only three matches for Rushden in the 2009–10 season, making 48 appearances and scoring 12 goals.

AFC Telford United Farrell signed for newly promoted Conference Premier club AFC Telford United on 27 June 2011. After making 17 appearances and scoring two goals for Telford He left Telford by mutual consent on 31 January.

Hinckley United Upon release from Telford, Farrell signed a contract for Hinckley United in February 2012, where he had spent the previous month on loan. He scored Hinckley's final goal of the 2011–12 season against Stalybridge Celtic on 28 April.

Whitby Town On 16 November 2012, Farrell joined Blyth's divisional rivals Whitby Town, making his debut in a 3–1 defeat at the Turnbull Ground, against Ashton United. He retired in February 2015 due to a serious hip injury.

International career Farrell played for the England national under-16 team at the 1999 UEFA European Under-16 Championship and scored in a 3–1 victory over Slovakia.

Death Farrell died on 30 May 2022, at the age of 39, in Middlesbrough. Premier League

2002–03 Third Division

2004–05 Conference National

81!!20!!5!!2!!2!!0!!12!!5!!100!!27 Exeter City 2005–06 Conference National

2006–07 Conference National

2007–08 Conference Premier

2008–09 Conference Premier

Oxford United (loan) 2008–09 Conference Premier

2009–10 Conference Premier

2010–11 Conference Premier

AFC Telford United 2011–12 Conference Premier

Hinckley United 2011–12 Conference North

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Honours Carlisle United Football League Trophy runner-up: 2002–03