Craig Farrell

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. 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. He signed his first professional contract at the club in August 2002, after which he joined Third Division club Carlisle United on a one-month loan on 7 October. 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. He was placed on Carlisle's transfer list in November 2003 as part of manager Paul Simpson's clear-out, although Farrell said he was prepared to wait patiently to earn a regular place in the first team. He was released by Carlisle in May 2005. Farrell signed for Conference National club Exeter City on 5 August 2005 on a one-year contract. 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." He was released by Exeter in May 2006 after scoring eight goals in 45 appearances in the 2005–06 season.

York City

Farrell joined York City of the Conference National on 27 June…

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

Craig Wayne Farrell was born on 5 December 1982 in Middlesbrough, Cleveland, where he grew up and attended Beechwood First School as a child.

Carlisle United

Football League Trophy runner-up: 2002–03