TIMELINE of the HAMMERS

THAMES IRONWORKS

Although Dave Taylor, a foreman in the shipbuilding department, undertook the task of forming a football club within Thames Ironworks in the summer of 1895, the idea was not his alone nor was it a 'spur of the moment' decision. With the demise of the Old Castle Swifts there were a number of its former players who were employed at the Ironworks and now found themselves without a club.

Arnold Hills, who had been involved in a bitter industrial dispute with his employees that year, thought that the formation of a football club might help improve the mood of his workforce. On 29 June, 1895, Dave Taylor announced in Hills quarterly Thames Iron Works Gazette, that he intended to establish a football club.

The club was financed by members' subscriptions and a generous contribution from the Thames Iron Works. It was run by a club committee made up of "clerks, foreman or supervisors at the Iron works". As over 50 men had joined the club, it was necessary to find enough matches for two teams.

Home games took place at Hermit Road, Canning Town. It had previously been used by Old Castle Swifts, a company club sponsored by Donald Currie, the owner of the Castle Shipping Line. Old Castle Swifts had been the first professional football club in Essex but it went out of business at the end of the 1894-1895 season.

Francis Payne was appointed as club secretary. The local newspaper praised Arnold Hills for forming a football team: "If this example were only followed by other large employers, it would lead to much good feeling."

1895-96

IRONS KICK-OFF

The newly formed Thames Ironworks FC played their very first match on 7 September, 1895 against the Royal Ordnance Reserves at their Hermit Road Ground in Canning Town.

12 October 1895

In what would be their first competitive game, Thames Ironworks took on Chatham Town in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup, losing 0–5 before a crowd of 3,000.

Watson, Tull, Williams, Stewart, French, Parks, Woods, Sage, Lindsay, Freeman, Darby

14 December 1895

Their biggest defeat came when they lost in a friendly game away to Millwall Athletic 0–6. Millwall were also an 'Iron Works' side, whose south London company competed with Thames Iron Works for contacts. The rivalry between the two clubs would continue into the present day.

16 December 1985

In the presence of a large crowd an attempt was made to carry out a match by the aid of electric light at Canning Town but it was not altogether a success. Twelve lights each of 2,000 candle power had been fitted up by the Thames Ironworks Shipbuilding Co Ltd but the engine was not powerful enough to keep these going and as the light varied a great deal little or nothing could be seen at times. The Irons won by 3-1. A Charlie Dove brace and another from Collins.

West Ham Charity Cup

An epic confrontation followed as Thames Ironworks faced Barking in the final of the West Ham Charity Cup on 21 March 1896 at The Old Spotted Dog Ground in Upton Lane. Drawing 2–2, the match was replayed a week later, and again the teams drew, this time 0–0. Eventually the final was replayed for the second time on 20 April 1896 and "The Irons" won 1–0, lifting a trophy in their first season.

"In the summer of 1895, when the clanging of "hammers" was heard on the banks of Father Thames and the great warships were rearing their heads above the Victoria Dock Road, a few enthusiasts, with the love of football within them, were talking about the grand old game and the formation of a club for the workers of the Thames Iron Works Limited. There were platers and riveters in the Limited who had chased the big ball in the north country. There were men among them who had learned to give the subtle pass and to urge the leather goalwards. No thought of professionalism, I may say, was ever contemplated by the founders. They meant to run their club on amateur lines and their first principal was to choose their team from men in the works."

Syd King, Thames Ironworks player and West Ham United manager

1902–1932.

THAMES IRONWORKS FC

West Ham Charity Cup Winners

For the 1896/97 season the club entered the London League. The campaign started well as Vampires were beaten 3–0 at home in the opening game. Another home win followed when the 1st Scots Guards were beaten 2–0. This was the last league match played at Hermit Road; the club had found a new ground at Browning Road, East Ham.

The FA Cup brought a trip to Kent where the Ironworks were overwhelmed, losing 8–0 to Sheppey United, although an injury to Hatton caused them to play with ten men for most of the game.

In the West Ham Charity Cup first Claremont Athletic were beaten 2–0, followed by another 2–0 victory over Manor Park in the semi-final. Thames were then paired with West Ham Garfield in the final. As current holders, Thames were the favourites, but they relinquished their hold on the trophy after losing 1–0. A further competition entered was the London Senior Cup, where they scored victories over West Norwood, Marcians, Wandsworth and Barking Woodville. Up next were Bromley and after two draws the Kent club came through, winning 2–0 on their ground.

In the league, Thames finished as runners-up. It was announced by owner Arnold Hills that he would help fund the building of a new ground, which would also be used for athletics and cycling. The work was soon completed and in June 1897 the company held a gala day for the opening. There were 8,000 present to see the enclosure, which was named the Memorial Grounds.

1896-97

21 August 1896

Thames Ironworks F.C. Have consented to fill the London League vacancy caused by the withdrawal of Royal Ordnance. The Irons 'kind' acceptance will avoid a considerable re-arrangement of the new Leagues fixtures.

5 December 1896

In their first-ever match at Browning Road, the Irons lost 2-3 to Leyton in a London Senior Cup first round tie.

LONDON LEAGUE (Division One)

Position: 2nd

Played: 12, Won: 7, Drawn: 2, Lost 3, F: 17, A: 17, Pts: 16

LONDON LEAGUE (Division One)

Memorial Recreation Grounds

Having started life at Hermit Road, Canning Town in 1895, the Thames Ironworks FC moved to a temporary home at Browning Road, East Ham, in 1896. The following year, at a cost of £20,000 to Thames Ironworks & Shipbuilding chairman Arnold F. Hills, the club moved to the new Thames Ironworks athletic and cycle ground, at the Memorial Estate, Plaistow.

The ground had been developed by a small army of workmen under the supervision of Mr. Samuel Turner. Construction started on the open field on 14 February – aside from the central football field, the grounds included a cinder running track, tennis courts a pavilion and what Hills claimed to be both the largest swimming pool in England and the biggest cycle track, the project also included provision for four acres of turf to be put down. Hills considered this was something of a record in engineering terms, from a mere field to the finest track in the metropolis in just under four months.

The Memorial Recreation Grounds was officially opened on 19 June 1897 to coincide with the 60th year of Queen Victoria's reign. As a preliminary to the opening ceremony, Miss Taylor presented Mrs. Hills with a handsome bouquet of mixed flowers, and Archdeacon Stevens offered prayer. Mr. Arnold Hills then unveiled the dedication plaque and delivered a brief address.

Mr. George Johnson, a member of the Federated Clubs committee presented a silver hatchet to Mrs Hills as a souvenir of the occasion. With this she cut a cord, and immediately a large coloured balloon flew open and four and twenty pigeons sped away, in all directions. Simultaneously, two new club flags were run up, and with a salvo of artillery and the National Anthem from the band, the opening ceremony concluded.

Hills had chosen the Memorial Grounds site - next-door to the East London Cemetery and just a stone's throw from their previous Hermit Road home - in part due to the chairman's plans to build the new Manor Road railway station nearby. However, the project was delayed and the station - now the modern-day West Ham - was not completed for another four years. The delays had a negative effect on the crowds attending events at the new stadium.

Hills also expressed his desire to host the FA Cup final at the Memorial Grounds. The businessman claimed the venue could hold as many as 133,000 spectators. Following consideration, however, this dream was dashed by the Football Association.

Having opened, the development played host to a variety of sports meetings where various Athletic clubs would participate in foot racing along with cycling and motorcycle races. However it would not be until some four months later that Hills' Ironworks would take to the football pitch for the first time. Sports meetings were now combined to take place around London League fixtures and often attracted crowds in excess of 16,000 with net profits going to the club.

Third Prize won by

Wm G. Burrows

Thames Ironworks CyC at

Chelmsford July 18th 1903

1897-98

LONDON LEAGUE (Division One)

For their second season in the London League, the club committee introduced players' insurance for the first time. This meant the players would be covered against loss of wages caused by injuries sustained from playing football. On 11 September 1897, in their first game of the new season of the London League and also at their new Memorial Grounds stadium, Thames beat Brentford 1–0. "The Irons" went on to win their first six London League games.

2 October 1897

The home game against Leyton attracted the highest league home attendance to date. 2,500 spectators saw the Irons' 4-0 victory.

30 October 1897

In the return game with Leyton, Harry Hird became the first Irons' player to be sent off after disputing the referees decision in awarding Leyton their penalty.

LONDON LEAGUE (Division One)

Position: Champions

Played: 16, Won: 12, Drawn: 3, Lost 1, F: 47, A: 15, Pts: 27

THAMES IRONWORKS FEDERATED CLUBS

September 1897

Speaking at a meeting of the Thames Ironworks Federated Clubs Mr Arnold F Hills said
"As an old footballer myself I would say to the players' get into good condition at the beginning of the season".

The Football Club colours at this time were:
Royal Cambridge Blue shirts White knickers and Red cap, belt and stockings

Players for 1897-98
Goal: D. Furnell
Backs: W, Tranter, F. Chalkley
Half-backs: C. Dove, F. Dandridge, D. Bird, S. Chisholm
Forwards: A. Older, G. Gresham, E. Hatton, J. Reid, Edwards

Furnell and Chisholm were new players, Tranter was currently being troubled with rheumatism in his leg.

Any Member of the Thames Ironworks employees can enrol with the Football Club on payment of 2/6 (12.5p) for the season.

THAMES IRONWORKS FC

London League Champions

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

During the summer of 1898, Thames Ironworks F.C. became a professional outfit for the first time, to match their new status as members of the Southern League.

"Remarkable progress has marked the progress of this club. The committee will have difficulty selecting from three good goalkeepers.
Moore (ex-Millwall), Rafter (ex-3rd Grenadier Guards) Heath (ex-West Ham Garfield)
Tranter and Neil will be assisted at full back by A.E. Marjeram from Swanscombe.
The 'halves' include S.P. Chisholm (from Inverness Thistle), D. Lloyd (3rd Grenadier Guards), Rod MacEachrane (Inverness), L. McEwan (Renfrew), C. Dove and Chas Barker.
The forwards will be chosen from: F. Brett (Swanscombe), R. Cobb (Montrose & Millwall), G. Gresham, J. Reid (Reading), H. Hird (Stockton), S. Hay (Renfrew), A.E. Boston (Luton Star), L. Foss (Old St Stephens) and W. Atkinson (Chatham).
With so much talent at their disposal the committee should at all times place a good team in the field with very little difficulty".

The committee have arranged buses to run between Canning Town Station and Memorial Grounds on match days.

1898-99

The Ironworks competed in the Southern League (Division Two London) which was formed on the basis of previous season Division Two. A total of 12 teams contest the division, including eight sides from previous season and four new teams.

10 September 1898

They kicked off the season on 10 September 1898 away to Shepherd's Bush, and were in fine form, beating the West London outfit 3–0.

24 September 1898

First home game at the Memorial Grounds against Brentford. The visitors were late arriving and the kick off was put back to 4:15pm (from 3:30). Two goals from Sam Hay and another from Charlie Dove in a 3-1 win.

15 April 1899

The last game of the campaign against Maidenhead, and the Ironworkers biggest win thus far in their 4 years experience. A three goal half-time lead was turned into a 10 goal rout. Moore in the Irons' goal had so little to do that he often left his goal unprotected and played up with the forwards.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE (Division Two)

Position: Champions

Played: 22, Won: 19, Drawn: 1, Lost 2, F: 64, A: 16, Pts: 39

SOUTHERN LEAGUE (Division Two)

THAMES IRONWORKS FC

Southern League (Division Two) Champions

As Southern League Division Two champions, Thames Ironworks were required to play Test Matches to decide their promotion to Division One. The first came against Cowes Sports on 22 April. The game was played at the supposedly neutral East Ferry Road ground of Irons' rivals Millwall. A 10,000 strong crowd saw Thames Ironworks win the game 3–1, with goals coming from David Lloyd, Patrick Leonard and Henderson.

The Ironworks then had to face Sheppey United, who had finished 12th in the 13 team Southern League Division One. The game took place at Chatham Town's ground on 29 April and finished 1–1, with David Lloyd once again the goalscorer. Before a replay could be staged, it was decided to enlarge the top division of the Southern League to 19 teams, thus enabling Thames Ironworks F.C. to join the higher tier.

1899-1900

SOUTHERN LEAGUE (Division One)

Position: 14th

Played: 28, Won: 8, Drawn: 5, Lost 15, F: 30, A: 45, Pts: 21

It is expected that the new station at West Ham (Manor Road) on the L.T. and S. Railway will be completed half-way through the season and this will be a relief for all who have trudged over the heath at Canning Town on the way to matches.

Thames Ironworks are one of four new sides competing in the Senior Division of the Southern League in 1899-1900. The others are - Bristol Rovers, Portsmouth and Queens Park Rangers.

16 September 1899

Ironworks lost their first fixture in the Southern League Division One 1–0 away at Reading.

18 September 1899

Biggest league win of the season, 4–0 home win against Chatham Town.

28 October 1899

Biggest win of the season, in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup on 28 October, trouncing Dartford away 7–0. However, The Irons good form soon ended on 4 November when in a league game they lost 7–0 at White Hart Lane to Tottenham Hotspur.

9 December 1899

The Irons' FA Cup game at home to Millwall was the largest attendance at a football match at the Memorial Grounds since their opening two-and-a-half years ago. The Lions were comfortably placed in the Southern League and, as was confidently expected by their support, they won 2-1.

28 April 1900

The last game of the season the Irons beat Millwall away 1–0. After the game the players retired but reappeared shortly afterwards and played 19 minutes football outstanding from the game that was abandoned back in December. In that game Millwall were leading 2-0 when the match was stopped. No further goals were added.

"You can always tell an Ironworks Committee man now. He wears a blue ribbon a metal badge and a big broad smile"

To bolster the squad for their first season in Southern League Division One, Arnold Hills supplied a transfer fund of £1,000 to club secretary Francis Payne, who raided Tottenham Hotspur for inside-right Kenny McKay, centre-forward Bill Joyce and left-winger Tom Bradshaw, who was immediately appointed captain of the team.

Thames Ironworks finished 14 out of 15 in the Southern League Division One and would be required to play a Test Match to preserve their divisional status.

Only two days later at a game held at Tottenham Hotspur's White Hart Lane Ground, The Irons faced a Fulham team featuring former centre-forward David Lloyd. Thames Ironworks won 5–1, with Bill Joyce claiming his third hat-trick of the season at his former stomping ground. Thames Ironworks had survived their first season in the top division of the Southern League.

WEST HAM UNITED

In June 1900, Thames Ironworks was wound up but was immediately relaunched on 5 July 1900 as West Ham United Football Club. Potential names of Canning Town, West Ham and Borough of West Ham were all considered, before West Ham United was decided upon.

The prospectus of the new limited liability company, to be known under the title of The West Ham United Football Club Company Limited is at hand. The primary object will be to encourage and promote the game of football in West Ham and district, and powers have also been taken by the company authorising them at any time to acquire land and other property. The company has been constituted on the ordinary lines, except that by the rules of the English Football Association no dividend beyond 5 per cent per annum can be paid. The affairs will be managed by a board of directors.

PLAYER DEBUTS IN FIRST SEASON

1 September 1900 Gravesend United

Hughie MONTEITH, Walter TRANTER, Charles CRAIG, Charles DOVE, Luke RAISBECK, Roderick McEACHRANE, Fergus HUNT, William GRASSAM, James REID,

Albert KAYE, Frederick FENTON

8 September 1900 Millwall Athletic

Thomas MOORE, Robert ALLAN

29 September 1900 Bristol City

Fred CORBETT

6 October 1900 Swindon Town

Syd KING

13 October 1900 Watford

George NEIL

24 November 1900 Bristol Rovers

William KELLY, Len WALKER

1 December 1900 Reading

George RATCLIFFE

12 January 1901 Bristol City

Richard PUDAN

19 January 1901 Swindon Town

Frank TAYLOR

23 February 1901 Queens Park Rangers

A. PINDER

1900-01

Position: 6th

Played: 28, Won: 14, Drawn: 5, Lost: 9, F: 40, A: 28, Pts: 33

5 July 1900

West Ham United was officially incorporated as a company and formed as a professional club, succeeding Thames Ironworks FC.

 Southern League:

The club took the place of Thames Ironworks in the Southern League Division One.

10 July 1900

First Board Meeting: The first meeting of the directors was held at 55 Barking Road. Cornelius Osborn was appointed as chairman, and Lew Bowen became the club secretary.

 Financial Struggles:

Despite initial public support, the club faced financial difficulties and had to secure a loan of £400 later in the season.

 FA Cup:

West Ham entered the FA Cup and reached the intermediate round, where they were knocked out by Liverpool.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE (Division One)

1901-02

SOUTHERN LEAGUE (Division One)

Position: 4th

Played: 30, Won: 17, Drawn: 6, Lost 7, F: 45, A: 28, Pts: 40

Western League: The club also participated in the Western League, where they had a mixed performance.

New Additions: New players like James Bigden (half-back) and William Linward (winger) joined the squad.

FA Cup: The team faced administrative challenges, including having to play an FA Cup tie against Leyton on the same day as a league match against Tottenham. The reserve team played Leyton, while the first team played Tottenham and lost 1-0.

Notable Matches: West Ham had notable victories, including a 2-1 win against Tottenham and a 4-0 win against Queens Park Rangers.

Player Transfers: Several key players left the club, including James Reid (to Worksop Town), Fred Fenton (to Swindon Town), and Charlie Dove (to Millwall).

Financial Struggles: The club continued to face financial difficulties and sold additional shares to improve their financial situation

The Hammers made a positive start and by the end of September they were leading the Southern League courtesy of four wins and a draw. Included in those games was a victory against Brentford, who were beaten 2–0 with Billy Grassam scoring both goals. Also among the goals was Freddie Corbett with a hat-trick against Wellingborough in a 4–2 win. There were four goals scored against both Northampton and Luton but what followed next was a disappointing run of six defeats with only one goal scored.

A home tie in the FA Cup followed against local side Grays United, ending in a giant-killing as the village team ran out 2–1 winners. The side was inconsistent – during December and January there was a run of three games without a win followed by three straight victories. However, this all changed as the team remained unbeaten during the last two months of the campaign. Fergus Hunt scored twice against Luton and got two more in the 4–0 defeat of Queens Park Rangers. Fellow striker George Ratcliffe also hit form as he scored nine goals in the last ten games including two against both Watford and Queens Park Rangers. There was an excellent 2–1 victory at Tottenham, where goalkeeper Hugh Monteith was the star performer. The backbone of the side had been four Scots: forward Billy Grassam, half-back Rod McEachrane, full-back Charlie Craig and goalkeeper Hugh Monteith.

The season started with two draws against Reading and Queens Park Rangers. The next game was a 5-1 hammering from Wellingborough Town. Goals by Billy Grassam and William Barnes gave West Ham three victories out of the next four games.

Although Grassam continued to score on a regular basis, the Irons had difficulty getting too many wins. The home defeat against Millwall in front of 10,000 spectators was especially painful. West Ham was also knocked out of the FA Cup in the first round by Lincoln City.

West Ham finished the season in 10th place, 20 points behind the champions, Southampton. This was disappointing after the previous season's 4th place. The team scored seven less goals but the real problem was in defence with an increase of 21 goals in the against column.

West Ham had to rely heavily on the goals of Billy Grassam who scored 19 during the season. The next highest scorer was William Barnes with 4.

Bill Yenson emerged as a promising full-back but at the end of the season he moved on to Bolton. The following season he played in the FA Cup Final against Manchester City.

That season West Ham lost another defender. Syd King, who was considered the best full-back in the division, suffered two very bad injuries while playing for the Hammers and after playing Kettering on 15th April, 1903, decided to retire from the game and later became secretary-manager.

1902-03

SOUTHERN LEAGUE (Division One)

Position: 10th

Played: 30, Won: 9, Drawn: 10, Lost: 11, F: 35, A: 49, Pts: 28

West Ham lost the services of four of their best players at the end of the 1901-1902:

 Roderick McEachrane (Arsenal),

 Charles Craig (Nottingham Forest),

 William Jones (Aberdare) and

 Hughie Mounteith (Bury).

The decision by the Football League to introduce a maximum wage of £4 per week, helped clubs in the Southern League like West Ham.

Southern League clubs began enticing Football League stars to defect with promises of up to £100 signing-on fees plus £4-£5 a week all the year round.

New signings: Joe Blythe (Everton), William Barnes (Sheffield United) and John Campbell (Glasgow Rangers).

The Irons FA Cup run ended in the First Round and club's top scorer for the season was Billy Grassam, who netted 19 goals.

Some notable matches from the season included:

 1-1 draw against Reading on September 6, 1902.

 5-1 loss to Wellingborough Town on September 27, 1902.

 3-1 victory over Watford on October 18, 1902.

 6-0 defeat to Reading on December 20, 1902.

 4-1 win against Luton Town on March 28, 1903

SOUTHERN LEAGUE (Division One)

1903-04

SOUTHERN LEAGUE (Division One)

Position: 12th

Played: 34, Won: 10, Drawn: 7, Lost: 17, F: 39, A: 44, Pts: 27

Some notable events from the season included:

 The departure of Billy Grassam to Manchester United, which impacted West Ham's attacking strength

The arrival of Charles Satterthwaite from New Brompton (Gillingham) to replace Grassam.

 A 4-2 loss to Millwall in the opening game of the season, despite goals from new signings Satterthwaite and William Kirby.

 A strong FA Cup run, where West Ham defeated Brighton & Hove Albion, Clapton Orient, and Chatham, before losing 1-0 to Fulham in the Fourth Round.

 The club's top scorer was Charlie Satterthwaite, who netted 18 goals.

CHARLES SATTERTHWAITE

The inside-forward began his career at Bury in 1895, playing in four league games before joining Burton Swifts in 1897. He played eight games in two seasons at Burton before transferring to Liverpool in 1899. With the Merseysiders he played for three campaigns, scoring 12 goals in his 46 appearances. Coming south in 1902 he enjoyed a short spell at New Brompton before joining West Ham in 1903. He was an immediate success, scoring on his debut against Millwall and finishing the season as the Hammers’ top scorer with 18 goals. His best achievements were his four goals against Brighton in the league and a hat-trick against Chatham in the FA Cup. In 1904 the lure of First Division football with newly promoted Woolwich Arsenal prompted Charlie to leave West Ham. With the Gunners he scored their first goal in the First Division and was leading scorer in two of his first three seasons. He scored 48 goals in his 141 total appearances before retiring in 1910. He later became a publican in Workington and died in May 1948 aged 70.

With relations between West Ham United and Hills increasingly strained, after the Irons last game at Canning Town the club removed their belongings to Boleyn Castle, Upton Park. There they have secured a capital enclosure from the Brothers of (the order of) Mercy. The Catholic fathers have dealt with the Southern League Club in a very generous manner, and Castle, it may be remarked, a place where history has been made. The old Anne Boleyn tower still stands whilst a beautiful wrought iron gateway, with the monogram of one Edmund Nevill, who was driven from his mansion during the religious disturbances of the seventeenth century, is still in its place.

As indicative of the football interest in the district to which West Ham remove, a week ago a Sunday morning football match at Castle between two moderate teams attracted a £25 gate, all in "tuppences.”

The best West Ham have been favoured with this season was £417. when the ’Spurs were on show. The worst was on the occasion of a visit from Wellingborough, £6 being the total, and even that had to be shared with the Midlanders.

Blocks of penny tickets are now being issued in order to raise funds for furniture on the new ground. A collection of £10 earns a life membership.

THE CASTLE / BOLEYN GROUND

The directors signed a lease for the Boleyn Ground, situated on the site of a catholic school surrounded by shops and residential streets, and started a ‘million penny’ collection scheme to fund its development.

The site was also home to the Boleyn Castle – Green Street House – a Tudor building once rumoured to have inhabited by Henry VIII’s second wife Anne Boleyn.

The previous tenants, Boleyn Castle Football Club, were amalgamated into West Ham, with Boleyn Castle’s best players joining the Hammers’ reserve team. West Ham moved in officially on 1 May 1904.

Despite the increased costs of running ‘The Castle’, as the stadium was known before adopting its modern guise of the Boleyn Ground, the larger crowds and gate receipts – up from £2,900 to £4,300 in the first season alone – meant the Club turned a profit.

When the fixture list for 1904/05 was published, West Ham were drawn to host another club with origins entrenched in London’s East End dockyards, Millwall Athletic FC.

Formed as Millwall Rovers by the workers of J.T. Morton's canning and preserve factory on the Isle of Dogs in 1885, the Lions had moved south of the River Thames to North Greenwich in 1901.

On 1 September 1904, sporting smart Claret and Blue shirts, white shorts and claret socks, West Ham strode out in front of a 10,000-strong crowd to tackle their near-neighbours.

The expectant supporters saw a new look West Ham team take to the field, with England international goalkeeper Matthew Kingsley, right full-back ‘Tommy’ Bamlett (both Newcastle United), left full-back Dave Gardner (Grimsby Town), centre-backs Frank Piercy (Middlesbrough) and John Russell (Everton), right winger William McCartney (Manchester United), inside right Jack Fletcher (Reading), centre forward Charles Simmons (West Bromwich Albion) and left winger Jack Flynn (Reading) all making their debuts. Youngster Billy Bridgeman was also handed a start, and rewarded King’s faith by scoring twice as West Ham recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory.

Match-winner Bridgeman had been born in Bromley-by -Bow in December 1882 and began his career at local club Adam and Eve FC before joining West Ham in 1903. The diminutive forward is credited by some sources as having scored all three of the Hammers’ goals in their win over Millwall, but official sources have the third goal credited to Flynn. He would end the 1904/05 season having scored eleven goals in 27 Southern League appearances.

1904-05

SOUTHERN LEAGUE (Division One)

Position: 11th

Played: 34, Won: 12, Drawn: 8, Lost: 14, F: 48, A: 42, Pts: 32

The Irons' new home originally consisted of a small West Stand and covered terrace backing onto Priory Road, along with dressing rooms situated in the north west corner between the West Stand and North Bank.

The next home game, against Queens Park Rangers, attracted 14,000, while a derby with Tottenham Hotspur on 24 September drew a record 16,000.

Results were up and down, with the highlight being a 6-2 home win over Luton Town in January 1905, but generally the Club’s fortunes were moving in the right direction.

The Castle proved to be a strong base, too, with nine of the 17 home Southern League fixtures ending in victory, and just five ending in defeat.

By the season’s end, West Ham were up to a respectable tenth, with Bridgeman scoring eleven goals, Simmons eight and Fletcher seven.

The Irons FA Cup run ended in the Sixth Qualifying Round. The club's top scorer for the season was Billy Bridgeman, who netted 11 goals.

The first season at the Boleyn Ground, despite more expensive running cost, saw a profit of £400 in large part due to the gate receipt prices rising from £2,900 to £4,300.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE (Division One)

1905-06

SOUTHERN LEAGUE (Division One)

Position: 11th

Played: 34, Won: 14, Drawn: 5, Lost: 15, F: 42, A: 39, Pts: 33