Craig Farrell (footballer)

Craig Farrell

Farrell playing for AFC Telford United in 2011
Personal information
Full nameCraig Wayne Farrell[1]
Date of birth5 December 1982[1]
Place of birthMiddlesbrough, England
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
Whitby Town
Youth career
1991–1998Middlesbrough
1998–2002Leeds United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2002Leeds United0(0)
2002→ Carlisle United (loan)7(3)
2002–2005Carlisle United74(17)
2005–2006Exeter City38(8)
2006–2009York City91(21)
2009→ Oxford United (loan)15(2)
2009–2011Rushden & Diamonds68(12)
2011–2012AFC Telford United16(2)
2012→ Hinckley United (loan)4(1)
2012Hinckley United12(5)
2012Blyth Spartans18(7)
2012–Whitby Town1(0)
National team‡
1999England U163(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:47, 9 June 2012 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19:47, 9 June 2012 (UTC)

Craig Wayne Farrell (born 5 December 1982) is an English footballer who plays for Whitby Town as a striker.

Club career

Early career

Farrell was born in Middlesbrough, Teesside, where he grew up and attended Beechwood First School as a child.[2] He played for local sides 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.[2] He was offered at trial at Leeds United at 15, and after scoring five goals in two games he was offered a four-year contract at the club.[2] He signed his first professional contract at the club in August 2002,[2] after which he joined Third Division club Carlisle United on a one-month loan on 7 October.[3] 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.[4] He was placed on Carlisle's transfer list in November 2003 as part of manager Paul Simpson's clear-out.[5] He said he was prepared to wait patiently to earn a regular place in the first team, saying "Karl and Magno have both been playing really well, so I can't really say much. I've only started one game this season in the LDV. I've got to keep working as hard as I can and make sure when my chance comes I take it."[6] He was released by Carlisle in May 2005, along with teammates Kevin Henderson, Carlos Roca, Brian Shelley and Chris Beech.[7]

Exeter City

Farrell signed for Conference National side Exeter City on 5 August 2005 on a one-year contract.[8] 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."[9] He was released by Exeter in May 2006 after scoring eight goals in 45 appearances in all competitions during the 2005–06 season.[10][11]

York City

Farrell joined York City of the Conference National on 27 June 2006.[12] He scored his first goal for York in a 2–2 home draw with Southport on 23 September 2006.[13] York's manager Billy McEwan set Farrell a target of 15 goals for the 2006–07 season during February.[14] He played through the last two months of the season with torn muscle fibres in his thigh.[15] After finishing the season with 10 goals in 51 appearances the club exercised their option to extend his contract for another season.[16][17]

Farrell playing for York City in 2007

He started the 2007–08 season playing as a right winger,[18] and after making seven appearances during the season was unable to feature for over a month due to poor form and a thigh problem.[19][20] After a struggle to regain fitness, Farrell made his return after coming on as a 69th minute substitute against Southern Football League Division One Midlands side 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.[21] Following this, he was voted as Player of the Round for the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.[22] York offered him a new contract for the 2008–09 season in April,[23] which he signed in May.[24]

Farrell scored a goal and made two assists during the 3–3 draw at 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.[18] 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.[25] He suffered a groin strain during York's 0–0 draw with Mansfield Town in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup, which meant he missed the replay at Field Mill.[26] Conference North club Gateshead attempted to sign Farrell on loan in January 2009 for the remainder of the 2008–09 season,[27] but he rejected this offer, saying he was not interested in moving down a division.[28] He eventually joined fellow Conference Premier side Oxford United on loan until the end of the season on 31 January.[29] He made his debut a day later in a 2–1 victory over Lewes.[30] His first goal came in the following game against Barrow, after being assisted by Lewis Haldane, in a game that finished 3–0.[31] He finished the spell with 15 appearances and scored two goals.[32]

Rushden & Diamonds

Farrell playing for Rushden & Diamonds in 2010

Farrell joined Rushden & Diamonds on 12 June, as part of an exchange deal plus £10,000 from York, for striker Michael Rankine.[33] Farrell missed only three games for Rushden in the 2009–10 season, making 48 appearances and scoring 12 goals in all competitions,[34] playing as either a target man or the right hand side of a three-man attack. 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 on a free transfer following his release from Rushden.[36] After making 17 appearances and scoring two goals for AFC Telford he was loaned out to Conference North side Hinckley United on 4 January 2012.[37][38] He departed from 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 in the last game of the season.

Blyth Spartans

Farrell signed for newly relegated Northern Premier League Premier Division team Blyth Spartans on 9 June. He made 18 appearances for the Northumberland side, scoring seven goals.[41]

Whitby Town

On Friday 16 November 2012, Farrell joined Spartans' NPL rivals Whitby Town, making his debut in a 3–1 defeat at the Turnbull Ground, against Ashton United.

International career

Farrell played for the England national under-16 team at the 1999 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship and scored in a 3–1 victory over Slovakia.[2] He was capped three times by the under-16 team in 1999.[42]

Career statistics

As of 20 May 2012.
Club Season League[lower-alpha 1] FA Cup League Cup Other[lower-alpha 2] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leeds United 2002–03[43] 000000–00
Carlisle United (loan) 2002–03[43] 73110022106
Carlisle United 268000050318
2003–04[44] 307102000337
2004–05[45] 18231–53266
Total 8120522012510027
Exeter City 2005–06[11] 38810–60458
York City 2006–07[16] 461020–305110
2007–08[19] 20823–833014
2008–09[32] 25310–40303
Total 912153–15311127
Oxford United (loan) 2008–09[32] 15200–00152
Rushden & Diamonds 2009–10[34] 411130–414812
2010–11[46] 27110–00281
Total 681240–417613
AFC Telford United 2011–12[37] 16210–00172
Hinckley United (loan) 2011–12[47] 4120–0061
Hinckley United 2011–12[47] 12500–11136
Total 16620–11197
Career total 3257118520381038386
  1. ↑ The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League and Football Conference.
  2. ↑ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Conference League Cup, FA Trophy, Football League Trophy and play-offs.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2004). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2004/2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 135. ISBN 9781852916602.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Growing Up". OfficialPlayerSites.com. Retrieved 28 October 2008.
  3. ↑ "Collins chases Glennon". BBC Sport. 7 October 2002. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  4. ↑ "Carlisle in double swoop". BBC Sport. 22 November 2002. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  5. ↑ "Wake leaves Cumbrians". BBC Sport. 20 November 2003. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "Farrell waits for chance". BBC Sport. 4 October 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  7. ↑ "Cumbrians make sweeping changes". BBC Sport. 18 May 2005. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "Inglethorpe hails Mackie capture". BBC Sport. 5 August 2005. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "Farrell upbeat on Exeter chances". BBC Sport. 19 August 2005. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  10. ↑ "Grecians release veteran striker". BBC Sport. 3 May 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "Season 2005/2006:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
    "Games played by Craig Farrell in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  12. ↑ "York in swoop for striker Farrell". BBC Sport. 27 June 2006. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  13. ↑ "Boss McEwan hails striker Farrell". BBC Sport. 25 September 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  14. ↑ Flett, Dave (2 February 2007). "McEwan sets Farrell scoring challenge". The Press (York). Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  15. ↑ Flett, Dave (18 May 2007). "Classy worker". The Press (York). Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Batters, Dave (2008). York City The Complete Record. The Breedon Books Publishing Company Limited. pp. 409–421. ISBN 978-1-85983-633-0.
  17. ↑ Flett, Dave (16 May 2007). "Midfielder Steve among eight released by City". The Press (York). Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Flett, Dave (30 September 2008). "City goal ace Farrell craves a striking role". The Press (York). Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Batters. York City The Complete Record. pp. 411–421.
  20. ↑ Flett, Dave (21 September 2007). "Striker Beardsley wants to prove his 'Worth". The Press (York). Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  21. ↑ Flett, Dave (29 October 2007). "Returning hero Farrell fires ten-minute hat-trick to sink Olympic". The Press (York). Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  22. ↑ Carroll, Steve (8 November 2007). "Faz on way". The Press (York). Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  23. ↑ Flett, Dave (26 April 2008). "Panther packed off". The Press (York). Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  24. ↑ Carroll, Steve (1 May 2008). "Faz signs fresh Minstermen deal". The Press (York). Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  25. ↑ Flett, Dave (3 October 2008). "City boss lays down challenge for Farrell". The Press (York). Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  26. ↑ Flett, Dave (28 October 2008). "Absence of Craig Farrell and Richard Brodie leaves Colin Walker with three fit strikers for key York City FA Cup replay". The Press (York). Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  27. ↑ Bowron, Jeff (23 January 2009). "Gateshead boss Bogie looking for a top show". Evening Chronicle (Newcastle upon Tyne). Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  28. ↑ Flett, Dave (30 January 2009). "York City centre-back David McGurk ruled out of FA Trophy trip to Kidderminster Harriers". The Press (York). Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  29. ↑ "Oxford sign York striker Farrell". BBC Sport. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  30. ↑ "Oxford Utd 2–1 Lewes". BBC Sport. 1 February 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  31. ↑ "Oxford Utd 3–0 Barrow". BBC Sport. 14 February 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "Season 2008/2009:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
    Flett, Dave (5 November 2008). "Setanta Shield: York City 1, Mansfield Town 1 (4–2 on pens)". The Press (York). Retrieved 6 June 2011.
    Flett, Dave (17 December 2008). "Northwich 0, York City 2 – FA Trophy". The Press (York). Retrieved 6 June 2011.
    Flett, Dave (14 January 2009). "York City strikers McBreen and Brodie on target to seal impressive FA Trophy win at Oxford". The Press (York). Retrieved 6 June 2011.
    Flett, Dave (21 January 2009). "Curse of Barrow goal ace Wayne Curtis see York City slide out of Setanta Shield". The Press (York). Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  33. ↑ "York sign Rushden striker Rankine". BBC Sport. 13 June 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Season 2009/2010:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  35. ↑ "Craig Farrell". Rushden & Diamonds F.C. 18 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  36. ↑ "AFC Telford United sign Rushden striker Craig Farrell". BBC Sport. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 "Games played by Craig Farrell in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  38. ↑ "Busy Andy Sinton shuffling his AFC Telford pack". Shropshire Star (Telford). 4 January 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  39. ↑ "Another signing – and two departures". AFC Telford United. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  40. ↑ "Hinckley Boss in bid for Quartet". Hinckley Times. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  41. ↑ "Former striker joins Spartans". Vital York. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  42. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (1999). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1999–2000. Headline Publishing Group. p. 859. ISBN 0-7472-7627-7.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 "Season 2002/2003:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  44. ↑ "Season 2003/2004:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  45. ↑ "Season 2004/2005:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  46. ↑ "Season 2010/2011:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 "Hinckley United Player Statistics Season 2011–2012". Hinckley United Independent. Retrieved 9 June 2012.

External links

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