Charlie Barker (footballer)

Charlie Barker

Charlie Barker in 2024.
Personal information
Full name	Charlie Mel Barker [1]
Date of birth	(2003-02-12) 12 February 2003 (age 22)
Place of birth	Rotherham, England
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) [2]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Crawley Town
Number	5
Youth career
0000–2020	Charlton Athletic
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2023	Charlton Athletic	3	(0)
2021	→ Wealdstone (loan)	3	(0)
2022	→ Hemel Hempstead Town (loan)	7	(0)
2022–2023	→ Wealdstone (loan)	29	(0)
2023–2024	Wealdstone	43	(2)
2024–	Crawley Town	48	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:10, 25 September 2025 (UTC)

Charlie Mel Barker (born 12 February 2003) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League Two club Crawley Town.

Career

Charlton Athletic

Barker made his senior debut for Charlton on 1 September 2020 in a 2–1 EFL Trophy defeat to AFC Wimbledon. In response to Barker's senior Charlton debut, manager Lee Bowyer said "I thought young Barker was outstanding, outstanding. He didn't put a foot wrong all night, in possession and out of possession". ^[3]

In his second senior appearance, an EFL Cup tie against Swindon Town, he scored his first senior goal as his side won 3–1. ^[4]

On 13 May 2023, it was announced that Barker would leave the club when his contract expired in June. ^[5]

Wealdstone (loan)

On 24 September 2021, Barker joined non-league Wealdstone on a month's youth loan. ^[6] He made his debut in a 1–0 away win against Kings Lynn Town, and would go on to make three appearances for the club. ^[2]

Hemel Hempstead Town (loan)

On 1 September 2022, Barker joined Hemel Hempstead Town on loan until 1 January 2023. ^[7]

On 28 October 2022, it was announced that Barker had been recalled early by Charlton Athletic. ^[8]

Wealdstone (second loan)

On the same day Barker was recalled from Hemel Hempstead Town, he made the switch back to Wealdstone until 1 January 2023. ^[9] On 3 January 2023, the loan was extended until the end of the 2022–23 season. ^[10]

Wealdstone

On 30 June 2023, Barker joined Wealdstone on a permanent contract following the expiry of his deal at Charlton Athletic. ^[11] On 25 November 2023, he scored his first goal for the club, heading in a 98th minute winner in a 3–2 victory over local rivals Barnet. ^[12]

Crawley Town

On 24 June 2024, Barker signed for newly promoted League One club Crawley Town for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year deal. ^{[13] [14]} He scored his first goal for Crawley in an EFL Trophy tie against Brighton & Hove Albion U21s on 20 August 2024. ^[15] Despite the 2024–25 season ending in disappointment with relegation, Barker was named Crawley Town Player of the Season. ^[16]

Personal life

He is the son of former professional footballer and manager Richie Barker. ^[3]

Career statistics

As of match played 20 September 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Charlton Athletic	2020–21 [17]	League One	3	0	1	0	2	1	3 [a]	0	9	1
	2021–22 [18]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [b]	0	1	0
	2022–23 [19]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [c]	0	1	0
	Charlton Athletic total		3	0	1	0	2	1	5	0	11	1
Wealdstone (loan)	2021–22	National League	3	0	0	0	—		0	0	3	0
Hemel Hempstead Town (loan)	2022–23	National League South	7	0	1	0	—		0	0	8	0
Wealdstone (loan)	2022–23	National League	29	0	—		—		1 [d]	0	30	0
Wealdstone	2023–24	National League	43	2	1	0	—		3 [e]	0	47	2
Crawley Town	2024–25 [20]	League One	39	1	1	0	2	0	3 [f]	1	45	2
	2025–26 [21]	League Two	9	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	10	0
	Crawley Town total		48	1	1	0	3	0	3	1	55	2
Career total			133	3	4	0	5	1	12	1	154	5

1. Three appearances in EFL Trophy
2. One appearance in EFL Trophy
3. One appearance in EFL Trophy
4. One appearance in FA Trophy
5. Three appearances in FA Trophy
6. Three appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Individual

• Crawley Town Player of the Season: 2024–25 ^[16]

References

1. "Club list of registered players: As at 23rd June 2020: Charlton Athletic" (PDF). 23 June 2020. p. 9. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
2. "C. Barker: Summary". Soccerway.
3. "Bowyer on fitness of Aneke and Gilbey, impressive Barker and injunction ruling". www.cafc.co.uk.
4. "Swindon 1–3 Charlton". BBC. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
5. "RETAINED LIST : SQUAD UPDATE". Charlton Athletic Official Site. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
6. "Barker joins on loan from Charlton". Wealdstone. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
7. "O'CONNOR AND BARKER JOIN HEMEL HEMPSTEAD ON LOAN". Charlton Athletic Official Site. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
8. "RECALLED BY CHARLTON ATHLETIC". Hemel Hempstead Town Official Site. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
9. "Loan news: Barker in and Baptiste out". Wealdstone Official Site. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
10. "LOAN UPDATE : Barker, Freckleton and Baptiste deals all extended". www.wealdstone-fc.com. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
11. "Barker returns to Stones". Wealdstone Official Site. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
12. "Wealdstone 3-2 Barnet". BBC Sport. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
13. "CHARLIE BARKER SIGNS FOR THE RED DEVILS". www.crawleytownfc.com. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
14. "Charlie Barker: Crawley Town sign Wealdstone defender". BBC Sport. 24 June 2024.
15. "Man Utd U21s produce late comeback in EFL Trophy". BBC. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
16. @crawleytown (28 April 2025). "🏆 Finally, Charlie Barker won the Crawley Town Football Club Player of the Season award! Well deserved, Chaz! #TownTeamTogether🔴" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 May 2025– via Twitter.
17. "Games played by Charlie Barker in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
18. "Games played by Charlie Barker in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
19. "Games played by Charlie Barker in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
20. "Games played by Charlie Barker in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
21. "Games played by Charlie Barker in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2020.

External links

• Charlie Barker at Soccerbase
• Charlie Barker at Soccerway