FORMER Derry City striker Mark Farren has died of a brain tumour at the age of 33.
Farren, Derry's all-time top goalscorer, had been battling the condition for over six years and a major fundraising event took place last year in order to fund special treatment on his grade four tumour in Mexico.
Respective Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland managers Martin O’Neill and Michael O’Neill attended that event at The Brandywell in Derry, while Irish internationals Seamus Coleman, James McClean and David Forde each contributed funds to the campaign.
However, the attempts sadly proved in vain as Farren’s former club Derry announced his passing via their official Twitter account on Wednesday morning.
It is with great sadness that we learn this morning of the passing of the clubs all-time top goal scorer Mark Farren https://t.co/BxBpsow9mY
— Derry City FC (@derrycityfc) February 3, 2016
Farren was originally diagnosed in 2008 and retired from the sport, before making a comeback in 2011 after treatment.
He then switched clubs to Glenavon, but was forced to retire once again in 2014 after a routine scan revealed he would need more radioactive therapy.
A native of Greencastle, Co Donegal, he had spells in the UK with Tranmere Rovers and Huddersfield as a teenager before making his mark with Derry City after stints with Finn Harps and Monaghan United.
Farren was part of the Derry City side that won the FAI Cup in 2006 and 2012, he also helped the club to the First Division title in 2010 and won the League Cup five times.
He was presented with an FAI Hall of Fame award in 2014 and was voted PFAI Player of the Year in 2005.
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