Thames Ironworks F.C. 1899-1900

The 1899-00 season was the last for Thames Ironworks F.C. before the club folded to be reformed as West Ham United.

They adopted claret and blue 'uniforms' for the first time. Charlie Dove had got the kits for the club at a very cheap price of £3.10s. They had come from his father William Dove, who was a professional sprinter, as well as being one of the coaches at Thames Ironworks. During the summer of 1899, Bill Dove had been at a fair in Birmingham, close to Villa Park, the home ground of Aston Villa. Dove had been challenged to a race against four Villa players, who wagered money that one of them would win. Bill Dove defeated them, and when they were unable to pay the bet, one of the Villa players who was responsible for washing the team's kit offered a complete side's 'uniforms' to Dove in payment of the bet. The Aston Villa player subsequently reported to his club that the kit was 'missing'. Thames Ironworks, and West Ham United would continue to use their previous favoured colours of white, sky blue or navy for their away kit.

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 chose to build the team by buying players already familiar with each other. From New Brompton he brought in right-half Alec Gentle and left-back Syd King who would go on to become West Ham United's first manager in 1902. Payne also raided Tottenham for three forward players, bringing in inside-right Kenny McKay, centre-forward Bill Joyce, who was described as having a "few fancy thrills" and left-winger Tom Bradshaw, who was appointed captain of the team. Bradshaw was a former England international, who holds the distinction of being Liverpool's first ever player to achieve international recognition. Players to leave in the club in the summer included the man Bradshaw had replaced in the team, Patrick Leonard, who returned to Manchester City. Walter Tranter was also sold to Chatham but he would return as a West Ham United player just a year later.

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