Mark Farren - TheSportsDB.com

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Name
Mark Farren

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50%

Born
Deceased

Birth Place

Donegal, Ireland

Position
Centre-Forward

Status
Deceased

Ethnicity

Team Number

Height
181 cm

Outfitter

Kit

Side

Agent

Wage Year

Player Cutout

Player Action Render

Sport

Soccer

Team
_Deceased Soccer

2nd Team

League
_No League Soccer

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No

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Mark Farren (1 May 1982 – 3 February 2016) was an Irish footballer who played as a forward for Derry City in his prime.

Farren began his football career with a largely unsuccessful period, throughout which he was dogged by injury, in the youth setup at Tranmere Rovers. Following this and a spell at Huddersfield Town, he returned to his home county to play for Finn Harps. After only one substitute League appearance in the 2000–01 League of Ireland season and a lack of first-team opportunities Farren moved south to fellow League of Ireland First Division side Monaghan United. He became a regular in the Monaghan team and quickly gained a reputation as a promising, pacy striker with much potential. He earned a move to Derry City in 2003 with a free transfer.

Farren stayed clear of injury in the 2005 season to produce some magnificent displays. He finished the season as second top scorer with 18 league goals in 31 appearances and 22 goals in all competitions. It was this excellent form that saw him named PFAI Player of the Year. With the signing of Kevin McHugh and the establishment of Gary Beckett as a top forward in League of Ireland football, Farren's starting place was placed under threat for the 2006 season. However, he returned to the form he showed in 2005 and did manage to hold down a regular spot in the team, with an especially strong finish to the season, which helped Derry win the FAI Cup. His efforts also helped keep Derry in the league title race up until the very last day of the season, only to see his club lose the title to Dublin rivals, Shelbourne, on goal difference. In all, Farren finished the 2006 season with 18 goals to his name.

In 2010 Farren was instrumental in Derry gaining promotion from the First Division scoring 20 goals in the season. Farren, who scored in the 1–0 victory in the last game over Monagahan United to give Derry the championship, may however be forced to put his playing career on hold due to a brain tumour.

In August 2012, it was announced that he would be moving to Glenavon in January 2013 after signing a pre-contract agreement. In September 2012 he overtook Liam Coyle as Derry's top scorer with 113 goals. He made his IFA Premiership debut for Glenavon on 5 January 2013 and scored his first goal at Dungannon Swifts.

Farren died of cancer on 3 February 2016. In his honour, Derry City retired the number 18 jersey, which he wore during his time at the club.