[3] Thames Ironworks played their first ever fixture of the 1895–96 season against Royal Ordnance reserves on 7 September 1895, the game ending 1–1.

These early attempts at floodlighting were set up using Thames Iron Works engineers and equipment, and caused an amount of notoriety.

The club had violated their tenancy agreement by charging admission fees and building a perimeter fence and pavilion.

At the turn of 1897, Thames' chairman Arnold Hills had managed to lease a temporary piece of land for the team, located in Browning Road, East Ham.

[8] After the club were evicted from Hermit Road, West Ham Council acquired the land for a park with the assistance of funding, including from the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association, and was opened in 1899.