 | |||
| Full name | Barking Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Blues | ||
| Founded | 1896 (refounded in 2006) | ||
| Ground | Mayesbrook Park, Dagenham | ||
| Capacity | 2,500 (200 seated) [1] | ||
| Chairman | Rob O'Brien | ||
| Manager | Craig Edwards | ||
| League | Essex Senior League | ||
| 2023–24 | Essex Senior League, 4th of 20 | ||
| Website | barking-fc.co.uk | ||
Barking Football Club is a football club based in Barking, Greater London, England. They are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at Mayesbrook Park.
The origins of the modern club are unclear, with several potential claims; Barking Institute was either formed around 1896 as Barking Working Lads' Institute (or possibly earlier as Barking Working Men's Institute) or was a renamed Barking Rovers, who had been established in 1880 and later renamed by the Church Institute when they took over running it. [2] They won the Essex Senior Cup in 1893–94 and 1895–96, before becoming champions of Division One of the South Essex League in 1898–99, the Leyton & District League in 1899–1900, Division Two of the South Essex League in 1900–02 and Division Two A in 1901–01, before changing its name to Barking in 1902. They also played in the London League, winning Division One A in 1909–10, before winning the South Essex League again in 1911–12, a season in which they also won the London Senior Cup for the first time. In 1912 Barking became founder members of the Athenian League, but withdrew after only two matches and their record was expunged. [3]
In 1919 the club changed its name to Barking Town, going on to win the Essex Senior Cup in the 1919–20 season. The following season they won the Premier Division of the London League and the London Senior Cup, before rejoining the Athenian League in 1923. [4] The 1926–27 season saw them reach the first round of the FA Cup, eventually losing to Gillingham in a replay. They also reached the final of the FA Amateur Cup, where they lost 3–1 to Leyton, but did win the London Senior Cup for a third time. They reached the first round of the FA Cup again in 1928–29, but lost 6–0 at Exeter City. In 1932 they reverted to the name Barking, and in 1934–35 won the Athenian League title.
Following World War II, Barking won the 1945–46 Essex Senior Cup. In 1952 they switched to the Isthmian League, but had to wait until 1978–79 before winning the league again; during that period they won further Essex Senior Cup titles in 1962–63 and 1969–70. The 1978–79 season also saw them reach the second round of the FA Cup, defeating Yeovil Town in the first round, before losing 2–1 at home to Aldershot, as well as winning the London Senior Cup for a fourth time. The following season they reached the second round again, defeating Third Division Oxford United before losing 3–1 to Reading. In 1981–82 they took Gillingham to a replay in the second round, losing 3–1. Their last appearance in the second round came in 1983–84, when they lost 2–1 at Plymouth Argyle. [3] A seventh Essex Senior Cup final win was achieved in 1989–90.
They remained in the Isthmian League Premier Division until relegation to Division One at the end of the 1990–91 season. After finishing bottom in 1995–96 the club was relegated to Division Two. In 2001 Barking ceased to exist when they merged with East Ham United to form Barking & East Ham United. However, when the new club folded in 2006, Barking were re-established and joined the Essex Senior League. In 2016–17 the club won the Essex Senior League, earning promotion to the North Division of the Isthmian League. At the end of the 2018–19 season they were transferred to the South Central Division. In 2021 the club was transferred back to the North Division. They finished second-from-bottom of the division in 2021–22 and were relegated to the Essex Senior League. In 2022–23 the club won the Essex Senior League's Errington Cup, beating Redbridge 5–4 on penalties in the final, following a 1–1 draw. [5]
The 2023–24 season saw Barking finish fourth in the Essex Senior League, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. They went on to lose 1–0 to Romford in the semi-finals.
Barking Institute originally played at the Recreation Ground in Barking Park, before moving to Vicarage Field, which had been in use by Barking Rovers since 1884. [2] Floodlights were installed in 1958 and they were the first Isthmian League club to play a league match under lights. In 1973 the club were forced to leave the ground by the council and moved to Mayesbrook Park. The club brought the floodlights from Vicarage Field and installed a temporary trailer stand on the northern side of the pitch. [6] This was later replaced by a permanent stand on the south side with 210 seats and standing for 450. [6] An uncovered terrace was installed behind the western end of the pitch, which had a roof added in 2001 when Barking merged with East Ham United. [6]
Farnborough Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Farnborough, Hampshire, England. Founded in 1967 as Farnborough Town, they are currently members of the National League South, the sixth tier of English football and play at Cherrywood Road.
Canvey Island Football Club is a football club based in Canvey Island, Essex, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at Park Lane.
The Essex Senior Football League is an English men's football league. It contains clubs from the Essex FA, Hertfordshire FA, London FA, Middlesex FA and the Amateur Football Alliance. It is a feeder league to Division One North of the Isthmian League and has a single division which sits at Step 5 of the National League System.
Hendon Football Club is a semi-professional football club representing Hendon in the London Borough of Barnet, but playing their home matches in Kingsbury in the London Borough of Brent. They are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at Silver Jubilee Park in Kingsbury.
Grays Athletic Football Club is a football club based in Grays, Essex, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League North Division and play at Chadfields in nearby Tilbury.
Brentwood Town Football Club is a football club based in Brentwood, Essex, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League North Division and play at the Brentwood Centre Arena.
Ilford Football Club is a football club based in Ilford, East London, England. Affiliated to the Essex County Football Association, they are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at the Cricklefield Stadium. Nicknamed the Foxes, the club play in blue and white hoops or stripes.
Walthamstow Avenue Football Club was an English football club based in Walthamstow in London. Based at Green Pond Road, they played in dark and light blue hooped shirts, and light blue shorts. The club was established in 1900, and was one of the most successful amateur clubs in the country during the 1950s. The club ceased to exist in 1988 when it merged with Leytonstone/Ilford, who later became Redbridge Forest and merged with Dagenham to form Dagenham and Redbridge. They have since been revived as an amateur football club, currently playing in the Sunday Essex Corinthian League.
Dagenham Football Club was an English football club based in Dagenham. Established in 1949, the club played at Victoria Road from 1955 until its merger with Redbridge Forest in 1992 to form Dagenham & Redbridge.
Basildon United Football Club is a football club based in Basildon, Essex. They are currently members of the Isthmian League North Division and play at Gardiners Close.
Maldon & Tiptree Football Club is a football club based in Maldon, Essex, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League North Division and play at the Wallace Binder Ground.
Billericay Town Football Club is a football club based in Billericay, Essex, England. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division, the seventh tier of English football, and play at New Lodge. They are the second most successful club in FA Vase history, having won the competition on three occasions.
Bromley Football Club is a professional association football club based in Bromley, Greater London, England. They are currently members of EFL League Two. Bromley play their home matches at Hayes Lane.
Hornchurch Football Club is a football club based in Upminster, England. They are currently members of the National League South and play at the Hornchurch Stadium.
East Thurrock United Football Club were a football club based in Corringham, Essex, England. They last competed in Isthmian League North Division and played at Rookery Hill. The club was placed into liquidation by owner Alfie Best on 1 September 2023. The club stated this was due to historic debts from the previous owners.
Bishop's Stortford Football Club is a football club based in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. They are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division Central and play at Woodside Park.
Tilbury Football Club is a football club based in Tilbury, Thurrock, England. The club play in black and white stripes, are currently members of the Isthmian League North Division and play home matches at Chadfields.
Romford Football Club is an English football club based in Romford, London. The club are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at Mayesbrook Park in Dagenham.
Harwich & Parkeston Football Club is a football club based in Harwich, Essex, England. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Division One North and play at the Royal Oak ground.
Haringey Borough Football Club is a football club based in Tottenham in the London Borough of Haringey, England. Established in 1973 by a merger of Edmonton and Wood Green Town, they are currently members of the Isthmian League North Division and play at Coles Park.
