![]() Charlie Barker in 2024. | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Charlie Mel Barker [1] | ||
Date of birth | 12 February 2003 | ||
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 | |||
–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 | 41 | (1) |
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:10, 15 August 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.
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]
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]
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]
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]
On 30 June 2023, Barker joined Wealdstone on a permanent contract following the expiry of his deal at Charlton Athletic. [11]
On 24 June 2024, Barker signed for newly promoted League One club Crawley Town for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year deal. [12] [13] He scored his first goal for Crawley in an EFL Trophy tie against Brighton & Hove Albion U21s on 20 August 2024. [14] Despite the 2024–25 season ending in disappointment with relegation, Barker was named Crawley Town Player of the Season. [15]
He is the son of former professional footballer and manager Richie Barker. [3]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Charlton Athletic | 2020–21 [16] | League One | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 [a] | 0 | 9 | 1 |
2021–22 [17] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 [b] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
2022–23 [18] | 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 [19] | League One | 39 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 [f] | 1 | 45 | 2 |
2025–26 [20] | League Two | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
Crawley Town total | 41 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 48 | 2 | ||
Career total | 126 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 147 | 5 |
Individual