Barking FC have announced the folding of Barking Ladies’, as Jordan Parsons reports.
Barking Ladies’ FC was forced to fold following concerns regarding the lack of playing staff.
Formed in 2000, the club has struggled to attract players in recent years, falling from five teams down to one. The club have released a statement in which they say the club will undergo a restructuring similar to the men’s from earlier in the season.
As a result of this restructure, the managing and administrative team for Barking LFC have departed from the club. However, it appears they left on good terms, as the club said “Peter (Ball) and Steve (Bernet) should be commended for holding the ladies group together for such a superb length of time.”
Barking have made it clear they want to carry on with the women’s team and may look to push them towards the Women’s Super League. However, with no manager and struggling to field a team it could be some time before they reach this long term goal.
Start Again
Barking are “looking to start again” and rebuild the whole team from the ground up, looking at ways to improve the organisation and structure of the club, and whether it would be financially viable to carry the team on.
“Unfortunately, over a similar period, the ladies’ teams have reduced in numbers from five teams to a situation where we were unable to field one team. The club wishes to continue with the ladies’ teams and will look to start again” said club chairman Rob O’Brien.
“The possibilities for development are widespread and the club are talking to a number of experienced coaches and administrators to take the club forward.”
Barking Ladies finished a respectable seventh in the Eastern Region Women’s Football League and could have won promotion had they not suffered a slump towards the end of the season.
Barking Ladies had only won one from their last eight games and finished on 21 points. Although disappointing, they did begin brightly as they won each of their opening three games. They finished in the Premier League of the eastern region, rising through the divisions from League 2 South.
At a time where the FA are trying to grow the women’s game, the folding of Barking Ladies will come as blow to women’s football in the area, but with hopes that the side can soon be reformed.