Thames A.F.C. up the club, despite an approach from Clapton Orient to merge the two clubs. They were replaced by Aldershot. Thames AFC should not be confused with Thames Ironworks FC, a club that had predated them by over 30 years, and would go on to be renamed West Ham United. Notable players for Thames included former England international Jimmy Dimmock, former Welsh internationals Len Davies and Moses Russell and ex-Arsenal striker Henry White. Eddie Perry went on to be a Welsh international. Thames' home colours were red and blue quartered shirts with white shorts and black socks with red and blue
Thames Ironworks F.C. Taylor returned to refereeing, handing over organizational duties to Ted Harsent, who became the first club secretary. The birth of Thames Ironworks F.C. coincided with the demise of Old Castle Swifts, the first professional football club in Essex. Thames took over the tenancy of Castle Swifts' Hermit Road ground in Canning Town and signed a number of Old Castle Swifts players, including former Woolwich Arsenal full back Robert Stevenson, who became the club's first ever captain and is credited as being the team's first player of note. The Ironworks played their first ever fixture against Royal Ordnance reserves on 7