Thames Ironworks F.C. 1896-1897 - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

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Thames Ironworks F.C. 1896-1897

"With reference to the forthcoming season, it has been decided to enter for the English Cup, London Senior Cup, West Ham Charity Cup, South Essex League senior and junior and if possible, one or two others. There will be very few dates left open for "friendly" matches, so it ought to be a good thing for the club financially." - Thames Iron Works Gazette

However, the most significant competition that Thames Ironworks F.C.

Thames Ironworks F.C.

Thames Ironworks Football Club, the club that later became West Ham United, was founded by Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd owner Arnold Hills and foreman Dave Taylor in 1895. Thames Ironworks took over the tenancy of The Old Castle Swifts' Hermit Road ground in Canning Town until their...

would enter that season would be the London League

London League

The London League was a football competition that was held in the London and surrounding areas of south-east England from 1896 until 1964.In 1896 the president of the London League was Arnold Hills founder of Thames Ironworks F.C. . One of the men who helped draft the rules of the competition was...

, even though the West Ham

West Ham

West Ham is in the London Borough of Newham in London, England. In the west it is a post-industrial neighbourhood abutting the site of the London Olympic Park and in the east it is mostly residential, consisting of Victorian terraced housing interspersed with higher density post-War social housing...

area was still officially part of Essex

Essex

Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...

at the time.

It was a seamless transition for the club to make as Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd owner Arnold Hills

Arnold Hills

Arnold Frank Hills was an English businessman, sportsman, philanthropist, and promoter of vegetarianism.Hills was the first President of the London Vegetarian Society and the Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club, and also served as President of a London Vegetarian Rambling Club...

was also president of the London League, and along with Thames Ironworks F.C. committee chairman Francis Payne

Francis Payne

Francis Payne was one of the men responsible for drafting the rules the London League and became London League members Thames Ironworks F.C.'s club secretary in 1897, succeeding Ted Harsent in the post...

, helped to draft the competition's rules.

New signings for the season included Reading F.C.

Reading F.C.

Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...

players H. Rossiter

H. Rossiter

H. Rossiter was a footballer who played inside right for Reading before moving in 1896 to Thames Ironworks, the team that went on to become West Ham United. He was a regular for "The Irons" in the 1896-97 season, playing in their FA Cup game of that year against Sheppey United.-References:*...

, E. G. Hutton

E. G. Hutton

E. G. Hutton was a footballer who played centre forward for Reading F.C. before moving in 1896 to Thames Ironworks F.C., the team that became West Ham United F.C.. He was a regular for The Irons, playing in four FA Cup games in his two seasons at the club....

, Davie and Holmes, as well as many more Thames Iron Works employees that still provided the core of the team.

In their first ever competitive league fixture in the London League, staged at the Hermit Road

Hermit Road

Hermit Road was the first home stadium of London football club Thames Ironworks, the team that would become West Ham United, and was located in Canning Town. Thames had taken over the tenancy of the ground in the summer of 1895 from Old Castle Swifts F.C., who were the first professional football...

ground, on 19 September 1896 Thames Ironworks beat the Vampires 3-0.

The following month, "The Irons" went out in the FA Cup

FA Cup

The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...

first qualifying round for the second year running, losing 0-8 away to Kent Southern League

Southern Football League

The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...

team Sheppey United

Sheppey United F.C.

Sheppey United F.C. is an English football club based on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. The club are currently members of Division One of the Kent County League and play at the Sheppey Sports Ground.-History:...

on 10 October 1897.

Shortly after their exit from the FA Cup

FA Cup

they were handed an eviction notice from the Hermit Road ground. The club had violated their tenancy agreement by charging admission fees and building a perimeter fence and pavilion. Thames Ironworks had to play their next four fixtures at the grounds of their opponents, until a new home could be found. The first of these games was against eventual champions 3rd Grenadier Guards F.C.

3rd Grenadier Guards F.C.

3rd Grenadier Guards F.C. were an English football team that played in the London League from as early as 1896 until 1898. During the 1896-97 season they were champions and during the 1897-98 season they finished 4th....

on 22 October 1896, which The Irons lost 1-4. The gloom continued on 5 December 1896, when Thames Ironworks lost in the first round of the Essex Senior Cup 2-3, in a narrowly fought game away to Leyton F.C.

Leyton F.C.

Leyton Football Club are an English association football club based in Leyton, in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. As of January 2011, they are not in a senior league, after withdrawing from the Isthmian League Division One North...

.

At the turn of 1897 Arnold Hills

Arnold Hills

had managed to lease a temporary piece of land for the team, located in Browning Road

Browning Road

Browning Road was the home ground of London football club Thames Ironworks, the team that would become West Ham United, towards the end of the 1896-97 season....

, East Ham

East Ham

East Ham is a suburban district of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Newham. It is a built-up district located 8 miles east-northeast of Charing Cross...

. However, the new situation was not ideal, as explained by future Ironworks player and West Ham United F.C.

West Ham United F.C.

West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...

manager Syd King

Syd King

Ernest Sydney "Syd" King was a footballer and manager, and one of the most important figures in the early history of West Ham United.-Playing career:...

in his 1906 book:

"For some reason, not altogether explained, the local public at this place did not take kindly to them and the records show that Browning Road was a wilderness both in the manner of luck and support." - Syd King

Syd King

Ernest Sydney "Syd" King was a footballer and manager, and one of the most important figures in the early history of West Ham United.-Playing career:...

, 'Book Of Football' (1906)

Arnold Hills

Arnold Hills

had already earmarked a large piece of land in Canning Town

Canning Town

Canning Town is an area of east London, England. It is part of the London Borough of Newham and is situated in the area of the former London docks on the north side of the River Thames. It is the location of Rathbone Market...

and would eventually spend £20,000 on the construction of an athletic ground with facilities for cycling and tennis as well as football but the ground would not be ready until the following season.

Travelling across the river to Kent again provided cup disappointment for "The Irons" on 13 February 1897, when they lost their second replay in the 5th round of London Senior Cup against Bromley 0-2. They managed to fare better locally, making the final of the West Ham Charity Cup

West Ham Charity Cup

The West Ham Charity Cup was an amateur football tournament, known to have existed between 1895 and 1902. It was contested by teams from West Ham and the surrounding area, an area of Essex that has subsequently been absorbed into London....

for the second year running. On 20 March 1897 they narrowly lost the final 0-1 to West Ham Garfield. It was also around that time that Thames Ironworks' inspirational captain Robert Stevenson

Robert Stevenson (footballer)

Robert "Bob" Stevenson was a Scottish footballer, a versatile full and half back who could also play at centre forward....

left to return to his native Scotland to play for Arthurlie F.C.

Arthurlie F.C.

Arthurlie Football Club are a Junior Scottish football team based in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, near Glasgow. They play at Dunterlie Park, on Carlibar Road, adjacent to Barrhead railway station. They currently play in the Stagecoach Super League, Premier Division...

.

Thames Ironworks' biggest defeat of the season came soon after, on 1 April 1897, when they lost for the second time to the champions-elect 3rd Grenadier Guards F.C.

3rd Grenadier Guards F.C.

0-5 at Browning Road.
Yet it was only two days later, when in another another home game, that "The Irons" recorded their biggest win of the season when they beat Crouch End 4-1. Another 5 days later would see the last game of the season, this time at home to Barking Woodville

Barking F.C.

Barking Football Club is am English football club based in Barking, Greater London. The club are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at Mayesbrook Park in Dagenham.-History:...

. The game ended 1-1.

In total Thames Ironworks won 11 of their 22 league and cup games in the 1896-1897 season, drawing on 4 occasions and losing 7.

They scored 39 goals and conceded 38.

Their first appearance in the London League had seen them finish 4th, but only temporarily. The 1st Scots Guards F.C.

1st Scots Guards F.C.

1st Scots Guards F.C. were an English football team that existed from at least 1891. They played in the Southern League from 1895-96 and finished third of nine in Division Two. This made them eligible to play in a test match promotion decider against Clapton, which they lost 1-4...

had withdrawn from the league during the season, and their record was deleted, and the London Welsh F.C.

London Welsh F.C.

London Welsh F.C. were an English football team that were formed as early as 1891. They lost emphatically in the 1891-92 season 0-12 to Millwall Athletic. They played in the London League for at least the 1896-97 season, in which they finished 7th of seven...

team had been suspended towards the end of the season. "The Irons" had not yet played London Welsh and as a result, and probably thanks also to Arnold Hills

Arnold Hills

' presidency of the league and Francis Payne's

Francis Payne

drafting of the rules, Thames Ironworks F.C. were awarded two wins by default and finished the revised league as runners up.

No.	\|Player	Position	FA Apps	Date Signed
Thames Ironworks F.C. Thames Ironworks F.C. Thames Ironworks Football Club, the club that later became West Ham United, was founded by Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd owner Arnold Hills and foreman Dave Taylor in 1895. Thames Ironworks took over the tenancy of The Old Castle Swifts' Hermit Road ground in Canning Town until their... 1896-97 FA Cup Team vs Sheppey
1	Southwood	GK	1	1896	Thames Ironworks Employee
2	Robert Stevenson Robert Stevenson (footballer) Robert "Bob" Stevenson was a Scottish footballer, a versatile full and half back who could also play at centre forward.... (Captain)	RB	1	1895	Old Castle Swifts F.C. Old Castle Swifts F.C. Old Castle Swifts Football Club, the first professional football club in Essex, was formed by Scottish shipowner Donald Currie in September 1892 as Castle Swifts Football Club. Old Castle Swifts' demise saw several players join the newly founded Thames Ironworks, the team who later became West Ham...
3	Holstock	LB	1	1896	Thames Ironworks Employee
4	Bird	RH	1	1896	Thames Ironworks Employee
5	Dandridge	CH	1	1896	Thames Ironworks Employee
6	Davie	LH	1	1896	Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
7	Nicholls	RW	1	1896	Thames Ironworks Employee
8	H. Rossiter H. Rossiter H. Rossiter was a footballer who played inside right for Reading before moving in 1896 to Thames Ironworks, the team that went on to become West Ham United. He was a regular for "The Irons" in the 1896-97 season, playing in their FA Cup game of that year against Sheppey United.-References:*...	IR	1	1896	Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
9	E. G. Hutton E. G. Hutton E. G. Hutton was a footballer who played centre forward for Reading F.C. before moving in 1896 to Thames Ironworks F.C., the team that became West Ham United F.C.. He was a regular for The Irons, playing in four FA Cup games in his two seasons at the club....	CF	1	1896	Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
10	George Gresham George Gresham George Gresham was a footballer who played inside forward for Gainsborough Trinity F.C. before moving in 1895 to Thames Ironworks F.C., the team that became West Ham United F.C....	IL	1	1896	Gainsborough Trinity Gainsborough Trinity F.C. Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
11	Morrison	LW	1	1896	Thames Ironworks Employee
Other known players
	Charlie Dove Charlie Dove Charles Dove was born in 1879 in East Ham, England. He was regarded as a super-fit footballer, who in 1895 stood at nearly 6 feet and weighed 12 stone, considered large at the time for a sixteen year old from a working-class area of Essex...	RH		1895	Thames Ironworks Employee & South West Ham
	George Furnell George Furnell George Furnell was an English footballer whose position was goalkeeper.Furnell played for Old Castle Swifts F.C. until 1895 when they folded. He then joined the newly formed Thames Ironworks He made regular appearances for the London League side, and played in all three of the club's FA Cup games...	GK		1895	Old Castle Swifts F.C. Old Castle Swifts F.C. Old Castle Swifts Football Club, the first professional football club in Essex, was formed by Scottish shipowner Donald Currie in September 1892 as Castle Swifts Football Club. Old Castle Swifts' demise saw several players join the newly founded Thames Ironworks, the team who later became West Ham...
	Sam Hay Sam Hay Sam Hay was an association football player who played inside-right for Thames Ironworks, the club that would later become West Ham United. He was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, and played for Victoria, until being signed up by the Irons for the 1895–96 season, where he became a regular choice.-See...	F		1895	Victoria Blantyre Victoria F.C. Blantyre Victoria Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Blantyre, South Lanarkshire. Nicknamed the Vics, they were formed in 1890 and play at Castle Park where their record attendance is 6,000...
	Holmes			1896	Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...

External links

West Ham United F.C. 1896-1897 at Spartacus Educational

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See also

External links