Danny Farthing

Danny Farthing
Position: Defender
2004 – 2009.

There are not many players in the football world that come back from a severe knee injury, but to do it twice is nothing short of amazing. Born in York in August 1982, Danny Fathering began his football career with Pickering Town in the Northern Countied East League Premier division. Danny made his debut for the Pikes on Saturday August 25th, 2000 against Glasshoughton Welfare at their Welfare ground winning 1-0. In his first season with them, they won through to the Second Qualifying Round of the F.A. Cup to face Accrington Stanley at home at Mill Lane. Despite losing 1-2 the Pikes played well. It’s this game that Danny rates as one of his favourite non Whitby games. At the end of the season, Danny had made 45 appearances for the club and had scored 6 goals. Pickering finished Fourth in the table and Danny picked up the ‘Young Player of the Year’ award.

Danny was approached and then transferred to Harrogate Town where he made just four league appearances and one cup one.

At the beginning of the 2003/2004 season Danny found himself back in the Northern Counties East League playing for Goole AFC. He made 35 appearances for the seaside club and netted three goals. Goole finished sixth in the league.

Harry Dunn had taken an interest and signed him for the 2004/2005 season. Danny pulled on a Whitby shirt for the first time at Lincoln United on August 21st, 2004 in the Northern Premier League. Scoring his first goal took a little time and on February 16th, 2005 scored a goal in the 2-0 win over Guisborough Town in the North Riding Senior Cup semi final. The final was held over until the following summer and on August 3rd, 2005 Whitby took to the field against Middlesbrough at the Turnbull Ground. At the end of 90 minutes Whitby had won 3-0 and Danny had his second bit of silverware at the club. The first had been a clean sweep of the end of season awards; Supporters Player of the Year, Players Player of the Year and Website Player of the Year. Danny names Graham Robinson as he favourite player at Whitby, ‘Graham Robinson. Great in the changing rooms. Robbo is a fantastic bloke and to play with a player like him was great. You knew if you had any problems you could approach Robbo and get some good advice. His criticism was always constructive. Just a great bloke. Not a bad player either. Surely a future town manager.’ When asked about the players he has played alongside, Danny talks of a couple of Whitby players; ‘Aron Wilford. How Aron never got a major chance in the professional game I just don’t know. He is strong, good on the ball, good in the air. He just needed a good break. He is a good friend as well which was always good when he is your centre half partner. Alex Gildea, Alex was the best centre midfielder in the league. He was so in your face and could turn a game on its head with brilliance in minutes.’

The next campaign Danny made 47 appearances and was the top appearances maker at the club for the second consecutive season. One of those games was at home to Guiseley on April 14th, 2006, this was Danny’s 100th appearance for the club. The next season was to be a mixed one for him. When asked what was his favourite Whitby Town game he recalls ‘Beating AFC Telford in December 2006. They were unbeaten at the top of the league and in front of a crowd of over 2000 we put in a stunning performance and beat them 3-1. Was a great journey home remember being that drunk I struggled getting of the bus. Mind you there was a few Saturdays like that.’ The season was also one of his worst moments in his career.

On March 3rd, 2007 Whitby played at home to Radcliffe Borough in the league. In the 27th minute Danny took a knock and was immediately substituted by Tom Claisse. The injury was worse than first thought. Danny needed an operation that would keep him out for 11 months and 23 days. In the North Riding Senior Cup Semi Final both Danny and other long term injury victim, Tom Raw, started against Middlesbrough. Sadly on the night Whitby lost 1-2 and even worse he was substituted on 71 minutes as he had aggravated his knee again which would keep him out for a further 11 months and 19 days.

Danny’s second return was like a fairytale. Just 38 minutes in to the game, Brunskill and Raw combined to give Danny a goal, the ironic things is that this would be his last game for the club. He felt that the travelling in the league was too much for him as it was impacting on his work commitments. ‘I do wish I could have worked around and carried on playing. I really do wish I had stayed.’ Danny ended his career with Whitby on 155 appearances and eight goals. He moved to Goole AFC for the remainder of the season and had a spell with Scarborough Town. Throughout the 2009/2010 season Danny was plagued by injuries at Scarborough and in 2010/2011 he moved to Tadcaster Albion where he helped them to 4th place in the Premier Division of the Northern Counties East League.
Even now Danny is one of the players who is named in most fans best XI at Whitby.

Season	Club	Country	Total	App	Sub	Goals
2001/2002	Pickering Town	England	45	40	5	6
2002/2003	Harrogate Town	England	5	5	0	0
2003/2004	Goole Town	England	35	33	2	2
2004/2005	Whitby Town	England	59	59	0	2
2005/2006	Whitby Town	England	47	47	0	2
2006/2007	Whitby Town	England	35	34	1	3
2007/2008	Whitby Town	England	1	1	0	0
2008/2009	Whitby Town	England	13	13	0	1
2008/2009	Goole Town	England	7	7	0	0
2008/2009	Scarborough Town	England	3	3	0	0
2009/2010	Scarborough Town	England	2	1	1	0
2010/2011	Tadcaster Albion	England	15	15	0	0
Total			267	258	9	16