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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 in Dagenham.

History
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. 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.

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. 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. 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.

Ground
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. 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. This was later replaced by a permanent stand with 210 seats and standing for 450. 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.

Honours
Isthmian League
Premier Division champions 1978–79
Athenian League
Champions 1934–35
London League
Premier Division champions 1920–21
Division One A champions 1909–10
Essex Senior League
Champions 2016–17
South Essex League
Division One champions 1898–99, 1911–12
Division Two champions 1900–01
Division Two A champions 1901–02
Leyton & District League
Champions 1899–1900
Essex Senior Cup
Winners 1893–94, 1895–96, 1919–20, 1945–46, 1962–63, 1969–70, 1989–90
London Senior Cup
Winners 1911–12, 1920–21, 1926–27, 1978–79

Records
Best FA Cup performance: Second round replay, 1981–82
Best FA Amateur Cup performance: Runners-up, 1926–27
Best FA Trophy performance: Second round, 1979–80
Best FA Vase performance: Fifth round, 1996–97
Record attendance: 1,972 vs Aldershot, FA Cup second round, 16 December 1978
Most appearances: Bob Makin, 566
Most goals: Neville Fox, 241 (1965–73)

16/03/24 Essex Senior League
BARKING 4
(Luke Hirst 3, Ezekiel Bademosi)
SAFFRON WALDEN TOWN 0

12/03/24 Errington Challenge Cup
2nd Round
TILBURY 0
BARKING 2
(Ezekiel Bademosi, Kenedi Dariri)
Match played at Barking

09/03/24 Essex Senior League
BARKING 2
(Bradleigh Rowland, Sam Dowridge)
ATHLETIC NEWHAM 1

05/03/24 London Senior Cup
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 4
BARKING 3
(Anthony Martin, Karl Kayembe, George Forrest)
Match played at Dartford

02/03/24 Essex Senior League
BARKING 0
ROMFORD 2

24/02/24 Essex Senior League
BARKING 5
(Anthony Martin 2, Jack Dickinson, Luke Hirst, Bleron Ademi)
ILFORD 0

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Barking are currently in 4th place in the Essex Senior League Premier. They have 55 points from 31 games with 16 wins, 7 draws, and 8 defeats. They have a +22 goal difference, scoring 64 and conceding 42. Their record on the road is, won 7, drawn 5, and lost 2, scoring 28 and conceding 11. The wins were:

17 February 2024
Hullbridge Sports 0 Barking 4
20 January 2024
Sporting Bengal United 1 Barking 2
23 December 2023
Coggeshall Town 0 Barking 3
25 November 2023
Stanway Rovers 0 Barking 2
17 November 2023
Buckhurst Hill 0 Barking 2
11 November 2023
Frenford 0 Barking 4
21 October 2023
Ilford 1 Barking 5

In current form, they sit in 4th out of 20, with 4 wins, 1 draw, and 1 defeat (against Romford 0-2), scoring 15 and conceding 3. The Bridge are 10th out of 20 with 2 wins, 2 draws, and 2 defeats, scoring 8 and conceding 9.

Note – This is the official player list as per the Full Time Website. Some of the players listed may have left the club.
Bleron Ademi
Gregory Akpele
David Appiah
Larry Asare-Bediako
Olusola Ayoola
Michael Aziaya
Ezekiel Bademosi
Teddy Bowden
Harry Carter
Abdul Charfi
Joseph Clark
Mitchell Cohen
Kenedi Dariri
Jack Dickinson
Samuel Dowridge
Jack Folan
George Forrest
Luke Hirst
Jalen Johnson
Mohammed Kaffo
Karl Kayembe
Warren Kayembe
Shaye La-Rose
Nelly Mallek
Anthony Martin
George Martin
Ahmed Mohammed
Colin Mugoya-Tabingwa
Declan Nche
El Hadji Ndao
Mame Ndao
Miraldie Ndunzi
Argest Nela
Fahad Nyanja
Daniel O'Donovan
Christopher Ozougwu
Giovanni Palmer
Addae Paponette
Daniel Purdue
Bradleigh Rowland
Igor Sani
Sam Shaban
Alfie Smith
Max Spence
Stephen Stafford
George Sykes
Charlie Thomson
Badru Wals
Sherwin Williams
Connor Witherspoon

Goal-wise, Luke Hirst has an impressive 18 and Anthony Martin has 16 although he hasn’t been in recent line-ups so may not be playing at the moment or even at all, but ex-White Ensign striker Ezekiel Bademosi has scored 3 in recent games and scored 13 in 22 for Ensign. George Forrest was with The Bridge earlier this season (and last) and so to was Shaya La-Rose in the past, I believe. Of course, joint-manager and making a good job of it is ex-Bridge coach Michael Walther.

Twice this season, the first time on what was a very good night for The Bridge at Mayesbrook Park as they came back from 1-0 down to a goal by Martin Tuohy to win 3-1 with goals from Jon Evans, Bobby Badham, and Solomon Ofori. It was a mixed night for Martin who also received a red card as did goalkeeper Arshak Sargsyan and Eman Okunja in a very eventful game.

The second meeting was not so enjoyable for The Bridge who were defeated 4-0 at the T.J. Cottis in February with the goals coming from Anthony Martin 2 (1 a penalty), Luke Hirst, and Bradleigh Rowland. This was part of a 17-game unbeaten run that Barking were on at the time.