AGED JUST 33, Derry City legend Mark Farren has died.
Farren, the club’s all-time top goalscorer, passed away in the early hours of this morning a spokesperson for the Mark Farren Fund confirmed.
He was first diagnosed with a grade two brain tumour in 2008 but made a full recovery and continued his playing career.
However, Farren was again diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2013 which required a second surgery.
Last year, after his family raised concerns about his health, tests showed that Farren had developed a grade four brain tumour.
Following surgery that removed 80-90% of that tumour, the Irish football community rallied together behind the Farren family to raise well in excess of the €30,000 required for further treatment in Mexico with the likes of James McClean and Seamus Coleman using their high-profile to help the effort.
However, this morning a spokesperson for the Mark Farren Fund said:
It is with huge disappointment that I can confirm Mark has died in the early hours of this morning.”
As well as Derry City, Farren also played for Finn Harps and Monaghan United before ending his career with Glenavon in 2014.
The tributes to the 33-year-old have already begun to flood in.
Robbie Keane deserves a statue outside Landsdowne Road, our greatest ever player
If rob keane is your best ever player I feel sorry for Irish football. On another note David Moyes is a fraud to football.
scores heaps of goals for us, loves playing for his country, most caps, amazing servant.
I bet your raging nobody took the bait
Keane has more goals than any English player ever in international football history…..
Remember England playing Emile Heskey on the wing at the World Cup?? Donkeys that country are at football
Strange but I have a good feeling about this game IRL 3 – 0 SWE . Come on you boys in green
Sweden and Austria are both there for the taking. COYBIG
Would love to see a full or almost full Aviva tonight, seems to be such a rarity for football matches at it. Not sure of our chances but we did play well away from home against them, COYBIG
obviously i understand the financial problems meaning people can’t afford the FAI’s ridiculously overpriced tickets also.
It’s Robbie Keanes boyhood dream to play for Sweden
Most overused joke in Irish football…