Farrell Vince Image 1 Clapton Orient 1936

Description

Preston, Lancashire born forward Vince Farrell spent most of his career at inside or outside left but featured in many positions. Initially he played amateur football with the Dick, Kerr Works XI and was signed by hometown Second Division club Preston North End, making his Football League debut at Charlton Athletic in November 1930. He played 11 matches at outside left in his breakthrough season, which featured a hat-trick in a 4-1 win in the return match against Charlton at Deepdale the following March, but he spent three further seasons on the fringes with Preston before signing for Third Division (South) club Clapton Orient in the 1934 close season after 4 goals in 16 appearances for The Lambs.

At Millfields Road he enjoyed three seasons of regular football for The O’s, scoring a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in April 1936, before signing for Exeter City in the summer of 1937 after 21 goals in 83 appearances. He made a sensational start in The Grecians’ colours, scoring both goals in the opening day 2-2 draw at Newport County but scored only twice more in 6 further matches before the year end, including in a 2-1 defeat at former club Clapton Orient that December. On leaving St James’ Park in the summer of 1938, Farrell returned to Clapton Orient, but failed to make any further appearances for the first team before joining non league Leyland Motors later the same year.