Special thanks to John Powles and his excellent book "IRON IN THE BLOOD : Thames Ironworks FC The club that became West Ham United" for allowing extracts to compile this feature and John Northcutt for his attention to statistical accuracy..

After such an auspicious occasion at the opening ceremony at the Memorial Grounds in June 1897, Thames Ironworks arranged a friendly game with Northfleet of the Southern League on September 2, 1897 for the club's first ever fixture on this ground.

NORTHFLEET

Memorial Grounds 1 - 1 (Reid) 2 September 1897

Furnell, Chalkley, Tranter, Chisholm, Dandridge, Bird, Hatton, Gresham, Reid, Mills, Edwards

The number of spectators present however, was extremely disappointing, for when the teams appeared there were just over two hundred people present. Maybe the opposition was not a strong enough attraction, or the fact that it was a Thursday evening, or it could have been the weather, for the game began with a strong wind and most of the second half was played in heavy rain.

When the Irons took the field they were sporting their new colours of blue and white with red stockings. Jimmy Reid proved what a valuable acquisition he was by scoring the first ever goal at the Memorial Grounds and the home side went in at half-time one goal to the good. During the second half there was an absolute deluge, which soaked the players to the skin. The game became a bit of a farce as it was impossible for players to keep a foothold, and with the game reduced to a walking

THE SPORTING LIFE

Friday September 3, 1897

NORTHFLEET

Away 0 - 1 4 September 1897

Furnell, Chalkley, East, Morton, Dandridge, Bird, Denham, Gresham, Hatton, Reid, Edwards

MILLWALL

Memorial Grounds 0 - 2 23 September 1897 Att: 1,200

Furnell, Chalkley, Tranter, Dove, Dandridge, Chisholm, Denham, Gresham, Hatton, Reid, Edwards

THE SPORTING LIFE

KETTERING

Memorial Grounds 1 - 3 (Gresham) 4 September 1897

Furnell, Chalkley, Taylor, Dove, Dandridge, Gillies, Older, Gresham, Hounsell, Reid, Mills

WEST HAM GARFIELD

Memorial Grounds 3 - 1 (Hounsell 2, Reid) 21 October 1897

Furnell, Taylor, Tranter, Dove, Gillies, Chisholm, Hird, Gresham, Hounsell, Reid, Cox

2nd LIFEGUARDS

Memorial Grounds 6 - 0 (Gillies 2, Gresham 2 [1 pen], Hird 2) 6 November 1897

Furnell, Neil, Chalkley, Hird, Taylor, Bird, Nichols, Gresham, Hounsell, Reid, Gillies

ST. ALBANS

Memorial Grounds 2 - 1 (Gillies, Gresham [pen]) 20 November 1897

Furnell, Neil, Tranter, Dove, Taylor, Chisholm, Hird, Gresham, Hounsell, Reid, Gillies

WOOLWICH ARSENAL RESERVES

Memorial Grounds 1 - 4 (Gillies) 27 November 1897

Duff, Chalkley, Hickman, Morton, Taylor, Bird, Nichols, Hird, Hind, Reid, Gillies

WILLESDEN & METROPOLITAN RAILWAY

Memorial Grounds 2 - 1 (Cooper, [1 untraced]) 4 December 1897

Furnell, Hind, Tranter, Gillies, Morton, Chisholm, Edwards, Reid, Cooper, Morrison (Only 10 men played)

AYLESBURY UNITED

Away 2 - 1 (Foss, Gillies) 18 December 1897

Ridges, Taylor J., Taylor W., Morton, Hickman, Hind, Foss, Nichols, Bone, Hird, Gillies

SOUTH WEST HAM

Memorial Grounds 4 - 0 (Gillies 2, Bone, Reid) 25 December 1897

Ridges, Dove, Bone, Gresham, Reid, Gillies (Only 6 players traced)

BARKING WOODVILLE

Away 0 - 1 27 December 1897

Line-up unknown

2nd GRENADIER GUARDS

Memorial Grounds 4 - 0 (Goalscorers untraced) 28 December 1897

Line-up unknown

FERNCLIFFE

Memorial Grounds 4 - 1 (Edwards 2, Hickman, Reid) 20 January 1898

0154 TIW v. Ferncliffe

Furnell Taylor J. Tranter Bird Dandridge Chisholm Morrison Hickman Gillies Reid J. Edwards

COMMERCIAL ATHLETIC RESERVES

Memorial Grounds 1 - 2 ([untraced]) 29 January 1898

Knight, Oxspring, McDougall, Morrison, Morton, Hicman, Rossiter, Mills, Ridges, Bone, Cox

UPTON PARK

Memorial Grounds 3 - 1 ([untraced]) 3 February 1898

Line-up unknown

GRAVESEND UNITED

Away 1 - 4 (Hounsell) 5 February 1898

Heath, Neil, Tranter, Hind, Taylor, Chisholm, Hird, Gresham, Hounsell, Reid, Gillies

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

Kensal Rise 1 - 1 (Reid) 12 February 1898

Heath Neil Tranter Chisholm Taylor Hickman Hird Reid Hounsell Gresham Gillies

Image courtesy of Nigel Turner

In a 1-1 friendly draw away to Queens Park Rangers the local correspondent expressed his opinion that the...

'Ironworks are a well balanced side, solid in defence, with a nippy forward line... Hird is an exceptional player both at dribbling and shooting... Heath made several fine saves, once fisting the ball over.'

NEW BROMPTON

Memorial Grounds 2 - 2 (Chisholm, Gresham) 19 February 1898

Heath, Neil, Tranter, Hind, Taylor, Chisholm, Hird, Gresham, Hounsell, Reid, Gillies

WOOLWICH ARSENAL RESERVES

Memorial Grounds 3 - 1 (Goalscorers unknown) 5 March 1898

Line-up unknown

CLAPTON RESERVES

Memorial Grounds 2 - 1 (Hare, [untraced]) 12 March 1898

Knight, ? , Chalkley, Morton, Barker, Furnell, Woodcock, Oxspring, Ridges, Cooper, Hare

LOWESTOFT TOWN

Away 3 - 0 (Reid 2, Hounsell) 9 April 1898

Heath, Neil, Tranter, Barker, Furnell, Chisholm, Hird, Reid, Hounsell, Gresham, Woodcock

GRAVESEND UNITED

Memorial Grounds 1 - 1 (Woodcock) 12 April 1898

Heath, Neil, Tranter, Barker, Oxspring, Chisholm, Hird, Reid, Dove, Gresham, Woodcock

UPTON PARK

Memorial Grounds 3 - 0 (Hird 2, Woodcock) 18 April 1898

Heath, Neil, Tranter, Barker, Oxspring, Chisholm, Hird, Reid, Dove, Gresham, Woodcock

WOOLWICH ARSENAL

Memorial Grounds 2 - 2 (Gresham, Reid) 26 April 1898

Heath, Neil, Tranter, Barker, Oxspring, Chisholm, Hird, Reid, Dove, Gresham, Foss

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