Former striker Craig Farrell, who died at the age of 39, was remembered by York City. His demise has remained a mystery to his family and friends.
Farrell joined York from Exeter City in 2006 and scored ten goals in his first season, helping Billy McEwan’s side reach the Conference National play-off semi-finals before losing 2-1 to Morecambe in the final.
The following season, the former Middlesbrough and Leeds United youth player scored 14 goals, including a hat-trick against Rushall Olympic in the FA Cup, which was City’s third-fastest treble ever.
After learning of Craig Farrell’s death, York City paid tribute to the former footballer, who died at the age of 39. Farrell’s former clubs, Whitby, Blyth, and Exeter, expressed their condolences following his passing.
After permanently leaving York for Rushden & Diamonds, Farrell went on to play for AFC Telford United, Hinckley United, Blyth Spartans, and Whitby Town.
Earlier in his career, he played for Carlisle United and was three times capped by England Under-16s.
When he was at York, he never gave anything less than his all, which endeared him to the fans.
Craig Wayne Farrell was an English football forward who played for Carlisle United in the Football League.
Craig Wayne was born on December 5, 1982, in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, where he grew up and attended Beechwood First School. Before joining the Middlesbrough junior system at the age of eight, he played for Cleveland Juniors and Marton Boys, a club he had supported since he was a toddler.
He was offered a trial by Leeds United at the age of 15, and after scoring five goals in two games, he was given a four-year contract. He signed his first professional contract with the club in August 2002, after which he went on a one-month loan to Carlisle United in the Third Division.
Farrell signed a three-year contract with Carlisle United in November after a successful loan spell with the club, with a fee that could have risen to £50,000 depending on performances.
Craig Farrell joined York City of the Conference National on June 27, 2006. In a 2–2 home tie with Southport on September 23, 2006, he scored his first goal for York. York manager Billy McEwan set a goal of fifteen goals for Farrell for the 2006–07 season in February 2007.
He missed the final two months of the season due to torn muscle fibers in his thigh, but the club decided to use their option to extend his contract for another season after he scored 10 goals in 51 appearances.
He started the 2007–08 season as a right winger, but he was unable to play for over a month after making seven appearances due to poor form and a thigh injury.