Thames Ironworks F.C. West Ham Charity Cup winners in 1895–96 and London League runners up and champions in 1896–97 and 1897–98. They were promoted to Southern League Division One in 1898–99 as Southern League Division Two Champions. They retained their Southern League status the following season by beating Fulham 5–1 in a Test Match. At the end of June 1900, Thames Ironworks F.C. resigned from the Southern League and were officially wound up. On 5 July 1900 they reformed under the new name of West Ham United F.C. and accepted an offer of the Southern League place left vacant by Thames Ironworks. Thames
Thames Ironworks F.C. Ironworks F.C. originally played at Hermit Road in Canning Town. They had taken over the tenancy from the defunct Old Castle Swifts. Hermit Road had been described as a 'cinder' heap' and 'barren waste'. It was surrounded by a moat and had canvas sheeting for fencing. On 12 October, Thames' had to play their first ever competitive game at the ground of Chatham Town in a preliminary qualifying round of the FA Cup as the opposing team had rated Hermit Road as "unsuitable". In October 1897, Thames Ironworks were handed an eviction notice from the Hermit Road ground. The club