Billy "Juicy" Farrell was an Irish association footballer who played for

Shamrock Rovers Shamrock Rovers Football Club ( ga, Cumann Peile Ruagairí na Seamróige) is an Irish association football club based in Tallaght, South Dublin. The club's senior team competes in the League of Ireland Premier Division and it is the most su ...

and the

League of Ireland XI The League of Ireland XI, more recently referred to as the ''Airtricity League XI'' for sponsorship reasons, is the representative team of the League of Ireland, the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. For much of its ...

during the 1920s. Farrell was a prominent member of the Rovers team that won the treble in 1924–25 and was top goalscorer in the

League of Ireland The League of Ireland ( ga, Sraith na hÉireann), together with the Football Association of Ireland, is one of the two main governing bodies responsible for organising association football in the Republic of Ireland. The term was originally us ...

on two successive seasons. He remains one of Rovers all-time leading goalscorers. Farrell was a highly regarded player, keeping a young

Jimmy Dunne James Dunne (3 September 1905 – 14 November 1949) was an Irish footballer who played for, among others, Shamrock Rovers, Sheffield United, Arsenal and Southampton. Dunne was also a dual internationalist and played for both Ireland teams: ...

out of the Rovers first team. During the summer of 1926 Farrell suffered a broken thigh following a motor cycle accident and this subsequently ended his career.

Playing career

Shamrock Rovers

Together with

Bob Fullam Robert "Bob" Fullam (1895–1971) was an Irish footballer and one of the best-known players in the League of Ireland in the 1920 A versatile attacking player, he was skilful but also had a tough-man image. Born in Ringsend, the son of John and ...

John Fagan John "Kruger" Fagan also known as Jackie Fagan, was an Irish football player and prominent member of the Shamrock Rovers team during the 1920s. He also played for the League of Ireland XI and Ireland. His son Paddy Fagan played for the Republic ...

and

John Joe Flood John Joe Flood, also referred to as Jonjo Flood or John Flood, was an Irish footballer who played as a forward for Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers, Leeds United and Crystal Palace. As an international, he also played for and captained the Irish Fre ...

, Farrell was part of a legendary

forward-line known as the "Four F's". Farrell and Fullam formed a particularly strong partnership. In the

1924–25 League of Ireland The 1924–25 League of Ireland was the fourth season of top-tier football in the Republic of Ireland. It began on 6 September 1924 and ended on 25 April 1925. Bohemians were the defending champions. Changes from 1923–24 Two teams withdrew fro ...

season they scored 25 and 20 goals respectively. Farrell finished the season as top goalscorer and Rovers went on to win a treble, by also winning the

League of Ireland Shield The League of Ireland Shield ( ga, Sciath Sraithe na hÉireann) is a defunct Irish football tournament which was introduced when the League of Ireland started in 1921 and ran uninterrupted until 1972. It was played before the league season began ...

and the

FAI Cup The Football Association of Ireland Senior Challenge Cup (FAI Cup), known as the Extra.ie FAI Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland (as well as Derry ...

. In 1925–26, Farrell was again the league topscorer this time scoring 24 goals. He also scored in the

1925–26 FAI Cup The FAI Cup 1925-26 was the fifth edition of Ireland's premier cup competition, The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup or FAI Cup. The tournament began on 9 January 1926 and concluded on 17 March with the final held at Dalymount Park, ...

final against Fordsons but Rovers lost 3–2.

League of Ireland XI

Between 1925 and 1926 Farrell made three appearances for the

. On 14 March 1925 Farrell played in a 2–1 home defeat against the Welsh Football League XI. His teammates on this occasion included

Ernie MacKay Ernest MacKay (7 October 1896 – November 1995) was an Irish footballer who played in an international tournament representing Ireland in 1924. Personal life MacKay was born in Tipperary as the second son and fifth child of John and Mary Eliza ...

, Dave Roberts and

Johnny Murray Johnny Murray (25 February 1898 – 12 November 1954) was an Irish soccer player during the 1920s. Murray was a skilful winger who played for Ormeau, Blue Crusaders, Bohemians and Drumcondra F.C. He joined Bohs in 1921 and stayed at Dalymount ...

. On 7 November 1925 he played again against the Welsh Football League XI in a 2–2 away draw. On 13 March 1926 he scored in 3-1 win against the

Irish League XI The Irish League representative team was the representative side of the Irish Football League, the national league for football in Northern Ireland from 1922 and, prior to that the league for Ireland. The Irish League was suspended from 1941–42 t ...

Dalymount Park Dalymount Park (Irish: ''Páirc Cnocán Uí Dhálaigh'') is a football stadium in Phibsborough on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as D ...

. On both of the latter occasions all of the "Four F's" also featured.

and Flood scored in the away game against the Welsh selection. Fulham also scored against the Irish League XI.

Ireland trialist

In March 1926

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

were preparing to play

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

in a friendly. Farrell took part in trials for the team and also played for a Leinster XI against a Munster XI in an unofficial trial. He had played poorly in this interprovincial match and failed to impress the national team selectors. The day before he had scored a hat-trick while playing for

in a

game against Brideville but had picked up a hip injury in the process. Despite his prolific goalscoring record and experience playing for the

, Farrell was left out of the squad for the Italy game and was overlooked in favour of

Ned Brooks Ned Brooks (died April 13, 1969) was an American television and radio journalist who was moderator of NBC's ''Meet the Press'' on television from 1953 until 1965, and earlier on radio. Brooks is the second-longest tenured moderator of the program ...

and Fran Watters.

Honours

;

** 1924–25 *

**''Winners'': 1924–25 **''Runners-up'': 1925–26 *

**1924–25 ;Individual *

League of Ireland Top Scorer A list of League of Ireland top scorers. A Division ;Notes Premier Division First Division ;Notes All–Time ;Notes References {{League of Ireland Top Ireland Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulst ...

: ** 1924–25, 1925–26

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Farrell, Billy Republic of Ireland association footballers Shamrock Rovers F.C. players League of Ireland XI players League of Ireland players Association football forwards Year of birth missing