Barking Football Club is a football club based in Barking, Greater London, England. They are currently members of the 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. They won the Essex Senior Cup in 1893âÂÂ94 and 1895âÂÂ96, before becoming champions of Division One of the South Essex League in 1898âÂÂ99, the Leyton & District League in 1899âÂÂ1900, Division Two of the South Essex League in 1900âÂÂ02 and Division Two A in 1901âÂÂ01, before changing its name to Barking in 1902. They also played in the London League, winning Division One A in 1909âÂÂ10, before winning the South Essex League again in 1911âÂÂ12, 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 1919âÂÂ20 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 1926âÂÂ27 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 3âÂÂ1 to Leyton, but did win the London Senior Cup for a third time. They reached the first round of the FA Cup again in 1928âÂÂ29, but lost 6âÂÂ0 at Exeter City. In 1932 they reverted to the name Barking, and in 1934âÂÂ35 won the Athenian League title.
Following World War II, Barking won the 1945âÂÂ46 Essex Senior Cup. In 1952 they switched to the Isthmian League, but had to wait until 1978âÂÂ79 before winning the league again; during that period they won further Essex Senior Cup titles in 1962âÂÂ63 and 1969âÂÂ70. The 1978âÂÂ79 season also saw them reach the second round of the FA Cup, defeating Yeovil Town in the first round, before losing 2âÂÂ1 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 3âÂÂ1 to Reading. In 1981âÂÂ82 they took Gillingham to a replay in the second round, losing 3âÂÂ1. Their last appearance in the second round came in 1983âÂÂ84, when they lost 2âÂÂ1 at Plymouth Argyle. A seventh Essex Senior Cup final win was achieved in 1989âÂÂ90.
They remained in the Isthmian League Premier Division until relegation to Division One at the end of the 1990âÂÂ91 season. After finishing bottom in 1995âÂÂ96 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 2016âÂÂ17 the club won the Essex Senior League, earning promotion to the North Division of the Isthmian League. At the end of the 2018âÂÂ19 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 2021âÂÂ22 and were relegated to the Essex Senior League. In 2022âÂÂ23 the club won the Essex Senior League's Errington Cup, beating Redbridge 5âÂÂ4 on penalties in the final, following a 1âÂÂ1 draw.
The 2023âÂÂ24 season saw Barking finish fourth in the Essex Senior League, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. They went on to lose 1âÂÂ0 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. 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 on the south side 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.