Craig Farrell, a striker for Carlisle United and York City, died at 39. Following the tragic news on Monday evening, tributes to the ex-England youth star came in.
Farrell was born in Middlesbrough and played for the Teesside club until 1998, when he moved to Leeds United.
Farrell never played for either team, but he scored 71 goals in 325 games for Carlisle and York.
Farrell also played for Exeter City and Rushden & Diamonds during his professional career.
The ace also represented England at the Under-16 level, scoring once at the 1999 Euro U16s tournament.
Farrell signed to York from Exeter City in 2006 and scored 10 goals in his first season, helping Billy McEwan’s team to the Conference National play-off semi-finals before losing 2-1 to Morecambe.
In 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 the third-fastest treble in City’s history.
In the 2008/09 season, Farrell only scored three goals and spent the second part of the season on loan at Oxford United.
Farrell went on to play for AFC Telford United, Hinckley United, Blyth Spartans, and Whitby Town after permanently departing York for Rushden & Diamonds.
He played for Carlisle United earlier in his career and was also capped three times by England Under-16s.
“We are heartbroken to learn of the demise of former player Craig Farrell, aged 39,” old team York tweeted.
“From 2006 through 2009, Craig made 111 appearances for City, scoring 27 goals.”
“At this difficult time, our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
“Sad news arrives of the untimely loss of former Bucks striker Craig Farrell, who played for the club in the 2011-12 season,” Telford United stated.
