Craig Farrell (footballer)

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.^[3] He was offered at trial at Leeds United at 15, and was offered a four-year contract at the club after scoring five goals in two matches.^[3] He signed his first professional contract at the club in August 2002,^[3] after which he joined Third Division club Carlisle United on a one-month loan on 7 October.^[4] 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.^[5] He was placed on Carlisle's transfer list in November 2003 as part of manager Paul Simpson's clear-out,^[6] although Farrell said he was prepared to wait patiently to earn a regular place in the first team.^[7] He was released by Carlisle in May 2005.^[8]

Farrell signed for Conference National club Exeter City on 5 August 2005 on a one-year contract.^[9] 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."^[10] He was released by Exeter in May 2006^[11] after scoring eight goals in 45 appearances in the 2005–06 season.^[12]

York City

Farrell joined York City of the Conference National on 27 June 2006.^[13] He scored his first goal for York in a 2–2 home draw with Southport on 23 September 2006.^[14] York's manager Billy McEwan set Farrell a target of 15 goals for the 2006–07 season during February 2007.^[15] He played through the last two months of the season with torn muscle fibres in his thigh.^[16] After finishing the season with 10 goals in 51 appearances^[17] the club exercised their option to extend his contract for another season.^[18]

He started the 2007–08 season playing as a right winger,^[19] and after making seven appearances was unable to feature for over a month due to poor form and a thigh problem.^[20][21] 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.^[22] Following this, he was voted as player of the round for the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.^[23] He signed a new contract with York in May 2008.^[24]

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.^[19] York manager Colin Walker challenged him to affirm himself as a striker, and was guaranteed a place in the team for their game against Cambridge United; the first time he would have started consecutive games since August 2008.^[25] Conference North club Gateshead attempted to sign Farrell on loan in January 2009 for the remainder of the 2008–09 season,^[26] but he rejected this offer, saying he was not interested in moving down a division.^[27] On 31 January 2009, he joined York's Conference Premier rivals Oxford United on loan until the end of the season.^[28] He made his debut a day later in a 2–1 victory over Lewes.^[29] His first goal came in the following game against Barrow, after being assisted by Lewis Haldane, in a game that finished 3–0.^[30] He finished the spell with two goals in 15 appearances.^[31]

Rushden & Diamonds

Farrell joined Conference Premier club Rushden & Diamonds on 12 June 2009, as part of an exchange deal plus £10,000 from York, for striker Michael Rankine.^[32] Farrell missed only three matches for Rushden in the 2009–10 season, making 48 appearances and scoring 12 goals.^[33] Having scored one goal from 19 matches in the 2010–11 season,^[34] he was released by Rushden in May 2011.^[35]

AFC Telford United

Farrell signed for newly promoted Conference Premier club AFC Telford United on 27 June 2011.^[36] After making 17 appearances and scoring two goals for Telford^[37] he was loaned out to Conference North club Hinckley United on 4 January 2012.^[38] He left Telford by mutual consent on 31 January.^[39]

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.^[40] He scored Hinckley's final goal of the 2011–12 season against Stalybridge Celtic on 28 April.^[41] He made eighteen appearances and scored six goals for Hinckley that season.^[41]

Blyth Spartans

Farrell signed for newly relegated Northern Premier League Premier Division club Blyth Spartans on 9 June 2012.^[42]

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.^{[citation needed]} He retired in February 2015 due to a serious hip injury.^[43]