Football mourns Derry City hero Mark Farren

The record books will forever enshrine Mark Farren’s impact at Derry City as a golden boot for the ages. And since goals were his business, that’s how it should be.

But to appreciate his standing in League of Ireland football as one of its most admired if low-key personalities, one only has to recall how the game rallied around him in his unflagging efforts to overcome a recurring brain tumour and, now, in light of the desperately sad news of his death at just 33, observe just how widespread the grief is in the wake of yesterday’s announcement from the Brandywell.

The Greencastle, Co Donegal, native had spells in England with Tranmere Rovers and Huddersfield as a teenager before his career encompassed spells with Finn Harps, Monaghan United, and, finally, Glenavon, but it was with the Candystripes that he achieved legendary status, overtaking the great Liam Coyle to score an all-time record 114 goals for the club.