Thames Ironworks F.C. 1897-1898

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Thames Ironworks' new venue, the Memorial Grounds, was opened on Jubilee Day, 1897, to coincde with the sixtieth anniversary of Queen Victoria to the throne. Thames' new home had cost £20,000 of Arnold Hills' money to build. It was situated close to where West Ham station now stands. The site retains its sporting connection in present times as the home East London Rugby Club. Aside from a football pitch, the stadium contained a cycle track, a cinder running track and the biggest outdoor swimming pool in England. It was said at the time that the grounds were "good enough to stage an English Cup Final."

For the first time ever the club committee had introduced players' insurance. This meant the players would be covered against loss of wages caused by injuries sustained from playing football.

In their first game in the new season of the London League on 11 September 1897, and also at their new ground, Thames beat Brentford F.C. 1-0.

This game was followed by the first two qualifying rounds of the FA Cup. On 18 September Thames overcame Redhill F.C. thanks to an own goal and a brace from Scottish defender Simon Chisholm. This was followed by a game against the Re-training Batalion which Thames won 2-1 with goals from The Irons' other Scotsman Jimmy Reid and former Reading F.C. centre forward E. G. Hatton.

"The Irons" went on to win their first six London League games, which included a 4-0 victory over Leyton F.C. in the second game of the season. A contemporary reporter wrote this at the time:

"LEYTON TOOK A WEAK TEAM TO CANNING TOWN AND LOST BY FOUR GOALS TO NIL - Nearly 2,000 spectators saw the match, which was commenced by the Ironworks in real earnest. Twenty-five minutes after the start the Ironworks, who so far had the best of matters, obtained their first point in the following manner: Hatton secured about fifty yards from goal and after dodging and wriggling through the whole of the Leyton defence, tested Sterling with a stinger that was only partially cleared and Hatton, pouncing on the ball again, promptly rushed it through.
Three minutes later, Gresham scored a second, so enabling the Thames to cross over with a deserved lead of two goals. For the best part of the game it was Thames' forwards v Leyton's defence and although beaten twice before the finish by Reid and Edwards, they were in no way disgraced.
Hatton was the most conspicuous of the Ironworks forwards, while Dove, Neill, Dandridge and Chisholm all played well in defence with goalkeeper Furnell having a very easy task." - TAM, Morning Leader, 6 October 1897.

In the third qualifying round of the FA Cup on 16 October 1897, Thames Ironworks faced St Albans and lost the game 0-2.

This was followed by their third London League game, away to champions 3rd Grenadier Guards F.C., which "The Irons" won 1-0. This result would have given them great belief in their ability to challenge for the London League.

On 27 November they beat Novacastrians F.C. in the first round of the London Senior Cup, which they won 1-0. The second round tie against 2nd Grenadier Guards F.C. was postponed after the Guards withdrew, and The Irons were granted a walkover. Thames faced local rivals Ilford F.C. in the third round on 22 January 1898 and lost 1-3.

"The Irons"' highest scoring game of the season in the London League had come a week earlier on 15 January, when a 'ten goal thriller' went The Ironworks' way 7-3 against Bromley F.C..

After two draws in late February and early March, their impressive league run continued with a 5-1 against Bromley F.C. on 19 March, and a 3-1 win against London League champions 3rd Grenadier Guards F.C. on 2 April.

In the London League "The Irons" only lost one game all season. This was the penultimate fixture against runners-up Brentford at Shooters Field on 23 April 1898. Charlie Dove was a regular first teamer at this point and prior to the game against Brentford, he was considered notable enough to be the subject of a newspaper feature in the East Ham Echo. Thames eventually lost the tie 0-1, and Brentford leap-frogged "The Irons" and were now one point ahead with a game left to play.

A final day victory away to 2nd Grenadier Guards on 30 April ensured that Thames Ironworks won the London League title by a single point, as fellow challengers Brentford F.C. had lost to Barking Woodville. Thames had finished the season with a 100% home record. In total they had won twelve and drawn three of their sixteen London League games. On the way to the title they had scored 47 goals and conceded 15, the best offensive and defensive record in the division.

Thames Ironworks F.C. were successful in their application to the Southern League and would begin the following season in Southern League Division Two.

Player Position FA Apps FA Gls Date Signed Previous Club
Thames Ironworks F.C. 1897-98 FA Cup Appearances
England George Furnell GK 3 1895 Old Castle Swifts F.C.
England F. C. Chalkley RB 3 1897 Park Grove School
England Walter Tranter (Captain) LB 2 1897 Thames Ironworks Employee
England Charlie Dove RH 3 1895 Thames Ironworks Employee & South West Ham
England Dandridge CH 3 1896 Thames Ironworks Employee
Scotland Simon Chisholm LH 2 2 1897 Inverness
England Older RW 2 1897 Thames Ironworks Employee
England E. G. Hatton RF 3 1 1896 Reading
Scotland Jimmy Reid CF 3 1 1897 Reading
England George Gresham LF 3 1896 Gainsborough Trinity
England Edwards LW 3 1897 Thames Ironworks Employee
Thames Ironworks F.C. 1897-98 Other Known Players
England Henry Hird RW 1 1897 Stockton F.C.
England Gillies LH 1 1897 Thames Ironworks Employee
England Taylor LB 1 1897 Thames Ironworks Employee
England George Neill D 1897 West Norwood F.C.
Scotland Sam Hay F 1895 Victoria
England Robert Heath GK 1897 West Ham Garfield

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