Footballer who battled cancer '˜incredible man'

By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Feb 2016, 18:36 BST
Updated 3rd Feb 2016, 18:40 BST
PACEMAKER BELFAST 07/05/2015 Mark Farren Charity Football Fund Raiser. Mark and his wife Terri-Louise pictured at the Glenavon and Derry City legend's game this evenings game at Mourneview park in Lurgan Northern Ireland. Photo Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press UPDATE : 03/02/2016 Former Derry City player Mark Farren has passed away, aged 33, after a battle with cancer. Farren, the Candystripes all-time leading scorer, had travelled to a specialist clinic in Tijuana, northern Mexico last summer for treatment on a grade four brain tumour. However, the Donegal native passed away this morning, with tributes flooding in for the talented striker.PACEMAKER BELFAST 07/05/2015 Mark Farren Charity Football Fund Raiser. Mark and his wife Terri-Louise pictured at the Glenavon and Derry City legend's game this evenings game at Mourneview park in Lurgan Northern Ireland. Photo Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press UPDATE : 03/02/2016 Former Derry City player Mark Farren has passed away, aged 33, after a battle with cancer. Farren, the Candystripes all-time leading scorer, had travelled to a specialist clinic in Tijuana, northern Mexico last summer for treatment on a grade four brain tumour. However, the Donegal native passed away this morning, with tributes flooding in for the talented striker.
PACEMAKER BELFAST 07/05/2015 Mark Farren Charity Football Fund Raiser. Mark and his wife Terri-Louise pictured at the Glenavon and Derry City legend's game this evenings game at Mourneview park in Lurgan Northern Ireland. Photo Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press UPDATE : 03/02/2016 Former Derry City player Mark Farren has passed away, aged 33, after a battle with cancer. Farren, the Candystripes all-time leading scorer, had travelled to a specialist clinic in Tijuana, northern Mexico last summer for treatment on a grade four brain tumour. However, the Donegal native passed away this morning, with tributes flooding in for the talented striker.
A former footballer who waged a long and public battle against cancer has been described as an 'incredible man' following his death, aged 33.

Mark Farren, who was a prolific goalscorer and whose career had seen him play for Derry City and Glenavon FC, had been suffering from a brain tumour.

He had been battling the illness since 2008.

He went on to marry his wife Terri-Louise, and according to the Derry Journal he made a full recovery, before being diagnosed with the disease again in 2013.

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Mark Farren in action for Derry CityMark Farren in action for Derry City
Mark Farren in action for Derry City

During his battle, he travelled to Mexico in order to get treatment at a private clinic.

He died yesterday morning.

His funeral is to be held at Ballybrack church outside Moville, Co Donegal, at 11am tomorrow.

His cousin Sinead Farren wrote on Facebook: “RIP dear cousin. Sleep well until we meet again.”

Mark Farren in action for Derry CityMark Farren in action for Derry City
Mark Farren in action for Derry City

A wave of others offered their condolences, including the mayor of Derry City and Strabane.

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Meanwhile Gary Hamilton, the Glenavon manager who brought Mark to the club in 2013, said: “We have lost a very special person.

“He was an incredible man. Most of all, he was humble and despite being perhaps one of the greatest finishers in our game, he was always trying to improve and get better.

“Terri-Louise and Mark are a special couple. They had a remarkable bond and she has been at his side through this very difficult time.”

He had scored 15 goals in only 10 games at the club during the 2013/14 season, and Mr Hamilton described him as “one of the best” when it came to his finishing.

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Before that, he had also enjoyed a “great career” at Derry City.

Mr Farren was originally from east Co Donegal but was understood to have lived in Killea, close to the border.

Elisha McCallion, Sinn Fein mayor of Derry and Strabane, said on Facebook: “I was deeply touched by [Mark and Terri-Louise’s] resilience and determination to do all they could to help Mark battle against his illness and at the positive way in which they coped.

“The support from the public for Mark was truly phenomenal, everyone got behind him and the efforts he and his family made to battle against his illness.”

Related topics:Mark FarrenDerry CityFacebookStrabane