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.

[9][6] All of the directors lived in Essex, most in the Canning Town and West Ham areas, and several had connections to the Ironworks or had business relationships with Hills.

It would be a standing disgrace to a district like West Ham, which is considered a hot-bed of football, if the club were allowed to go unsupported.

And as a sportsman I think – dropping the third person for a moment – the answer is 'We will'.The club continued to play at the Memorial Grounds, with hopes that the new train station at West Ham would enable greater access to the stadium.

[12] Hills’ promise to match the public shareholding, and his offer of free use of the Memorial Grounds, came with the proviso that the players would refrain from drinking alcohol.

The likes of Bill Joyce, Kenny McKay and Albert Carnelly had departed,[18] but Tommy Moore, Syd King, Charlie Craig, Charlie Dove, George Neil, Bob Allan, Roddy McEachrane, Fred Corbett, Frankie Taylor and Len Walker all played a part in the season.

Players signed from other clubs before the start of the season included Hugh Monteith from Bristol City, Billy Grassam and Jimmy Reid from Burslem Port Vale, Luke Raisbeck from Middlesbrough, Fergus Hunt from Woolwich Arsenal, Fred Fenton from Gainsborough Trinity, and Albert Kaye from Chatham.

[24] There was some controversy, however, as the match had to be stopped for around 20 minutes after a pitch invasion and the club directorate came in for criticism due to the presence of only two police constables.

[15] On 3 November, West Ham played their first FA Cup game, a third qualifying round fixture against local amateur club Olympic at the Memorial Grounds.

The match was a one-sided affair, with the away team goalkeeper Meates performing well to keep the scoreline at 1–0, after Fenton had scored 10 minutes in with a ball that had appeared to be meant as a cross.

[15][26] The largest home attendance came in an FA Cup fifth qualifying round fixture against local side Clapton on 8 December.

The Clapton ‘keeper Harry Earle (whose son later played for West Ham) had been at fault for the second after running out and leaving his goal unguarded.

[12][31] The club then embarked on an eight-match unbeaten run, which included victory over Millwall, and would take them through to the season’s penultimate fixture, away to Reading.

The match marked the final appearance of Charlie Dove – the only player to have remained at the club since its inception as Thames Ironworks six years previously – who left for Millwall.