Thames Ironworks F.C. - Home Venues

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Thames 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 had violated their tenancy agreement by charging admission fees and building a perimeter fence and pavilion. Thames Ironworks played their next few fixtures at the grounds of their opponents, until, at the turn of 1897, Arnold Hills managed to lease a temporary piece of land for the team, located in Browning Road, East Ham. However, the new situation was not ideal, as explained by future Ironworks player and West Ham United manager Syd King in his 1906 book:

'"For some reason, not altogether explained, the local public at this place did not take kindly to them and the records show that Browning Road was a wilderness both in the manner of luck and support." -Syd King, 'Book Of Football' (1906)

Arnold Hills earmarked a large piece of land in Canning Town and would eventually spend £20,000 on the construction of a new stadium but the ground would not be ready until the following season. The Memorial Grounds were opened on Jubilee Day, 1897, to coincde with the sixtieth anniversary of Queen Victoria to the throne. It was situated close to where West Ham station now stands. The site retains its sporting connection in present times as the home East London RFC and Phantoms RFC Rugby Clubs. Aside from a football pitch, the stadium contained a cinder running track for athletics, a cycle track and tennis courts, as well as one of the biggest outdoor swimming pools in England. It was said at the time that the grounds were "good enough to stage an English Cup Final." On 11 September 1897, in their first game of the new season of the London League and also at their new ground, Thames beat Brentford 1-0. West Ham United would continue to use the stadium until their move to the Boleyn Ground in 1904.