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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)

03/02/24 Errington Challenge
Cup 1st Round
WHITE ENSIGN 0
BARKING 4
(Anthony Martin 3, Luke Hirst)

30/01/24 Peter Butcher
Memorial Trophy
1st Round
COGGESHALL TOWN 0
BARKING 1
(Samuel Dowdridge)

27/01/24 Essex Senior League
GREAT WAKERING ROVERS 0
BARKING 0

20/01/24 Essex Senior League
SPORTING BENGAL UNITED 1
BARKING 2
(Anthony Martin, Luke Hirst)

13/01/24 Essex Senior League
BARKING 6
(Anthony Martin 3, Luke Hirst 2, Jack Dickinson)
WHITE ENSIGN 0

06/01/24 Essex Senior League
BARKING 3
(Luke Hirst, Karl Kayembe, Warren Kayembe)
WOODFORD TOWN 0

After 26 matches, “The Blues” are currently in 7th place in the Essex Senior League Premier. They have 43 points from those 26 games – 12 wins, 7 draws, and 7 defeats. They have a +10 goal difference, scoring 49 and conceding 39.

Away form consists of 6 wins, 5 draws, and 2 defeats, scoring 24 and conceding 11. That impressive record of 6 wins includes a 1-2 December victory at Sporting Bengal United, and a magnificent November with a 0-3 victory at Coggeshall Town, a 0-2 win at Stanway Rovers, and Buckhurst Hill, and a 0-4 win at Frenford. Before that amazing November set of results, they had only one away victory at Ilford, 1-5 in October.

In current form they are in 3rd place with 4 wins, 2 draws, and 0 defeats, scoring 15 and conceding just 2.

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.

Bleron Ademi
Gregory Akpele
David Appiah
Larry Asare-Bediako
Olusola Ayoola
Teddy Bowden
Abdul Charfi
Joseph Clark
Mitchell Cohen
Kenedi Dariri
Jack Dickinson
Samuel Dowridge
Jack Folan
George Forrest
Harry Girling
Luke Hirst
Jalen Johnson
Karl Kayembe
Warren Kayembe
Shaye La-Rose
Ben Lane
Nelly Mallek
Palvy Manduakila
Anthony Martin
George Martin
Ahmed Mohammed
Colin Mugoya-Tabingwa
Declan Nche
El Hadji Ndao
Mame Balla Ndao
Miraldie Ndunzi
Argest Nela
Fahad Nyanja
Daniel O'Donovan
Troy Osei-Bobie
Christopher Ozougwu
Giovani Palmer
Addae Paponette
Bradleigh Rowland
Sam Shaban
Alfie Smith
Max Spence
Stephen Stafford
George Sykes
Charlie Thomson
Badru Wals
Sherwin Williams

Goal-wise it’s the two who have been scoring in recent games, Luke Hirst and Anthony Martin. Luke has 13 and Anthony 11 for the season. Mike Walther is obviously on the bench and doing a fine job with co-manager Jonny Fowell and that would probably be the main reason behind the ex-Bridge players, George Forrest and Palvy Manduakila now plying their trade at Barking. Interesting links between the clubs with Martin Tuohy going in the other direction and joining The Bridge after appearing for Barking earlier in the season.

This could be a bit of a cracker with the two teams in decent form and Barking have been flying of late in both league and cups. Current form has Barking 3rd and The Bridge 4th with just one defeat amongst the team's last 6 league matches (White Ensign 2 The Bridge 1). Chuck in the connections between the two clubs and there could be fireworks even though we’re nowhere near November 5th!

6th against 7th, current form 4th against 3rd, this one has got the lot and is not to be missed…
There remains just one thing left to say….