Derry City will retire their #18 jersey in tribute to the late Mark Farren

Fans launch petition to name new Brandywell stand after the legendary striker, who died on Wednesday.

A tribute to former Derry City player Mark Farren Presseye / Lorcan Doherty/INPHO Presseye / Lorcan Doherty/INPHO / Lorcan Doherty/INPHO

MARK FARREN MADE Derry City’s #18 jersey his own — and that’s the way it will stay forever.

The Candystripes will retire Farren’s iconic number in honour of the legendary striker who died on Wednesday, aged 33, after a long fight against brain cancer.

Derry City will retire the Number 18 jersey as a tribute to the club's all time leading goalscorer Mark Farren pic.twitter.com/VFaT5YZcg5
— Derry City FC (@derrycityfc) February 3, 2016

Derry City FC / Twitter

Tributes poured in from across the sporting community with FAI chief executive John Delaney paying his respects to “a tremendous talent [and] a real gentleman.”

Fans have also launched a petition to name the new stand at the Brandywell after Farren, who broke the club goalscoring record in 2012 with his tally of 113.

Former Republic of Ireland international Keith Fahey was among the first to lend his support to the petition to Derry City and Strabane District Council.

Farren’s funeral will take place on Friday morning at St Mary’s church in Ballybrack.

Derry City and Strabane District Council, Derry City FC: Name the new stand in The Brandywell Stadium... https://t.co/2rn7O6LpU5 via Change
— Keith Fahey (@Keith_Fahey) February 3, 2016

Keith Fahey / Twitter

Derry City will retire their #18 jersey in tribute to the late Mark Farren

‘A devastating blow to Irish football’ – Tributes paid to ‘true gentleman’ Mark Farren