Thames A.F.C.

The "Association" was abbreviated upon joining the Football League, giving the team the more regular name of Thames AFC.

[2] They were founded in 1928, in a similar manner to Sheffield United, Liverpool, New Brighton Tower and nearby Chelsea: to play on a ground which had no football club in residence.

In Thames' case, they were formed by a group of businessmen who had built the West Ham Stadium, with a capacity of 120,000, in the Custom House area of Essex (now part of the London Borough of Newham in Greater London); the stadium was primarily used for greyhound and speedway racing which took place during the week, leaving Saturdays free.

[5] Thames continued to field a reserve side in the Southern League for a single further season, before withdrawing entirely in 1931.

[7] Despite the stadium's capacity of 120,000 (making it the largest ground in England to regularly host League football), the club holds the record for the lowest known attendance for a Saturday Football League match; just 469 fans paid to watch Thames play Luton Town on 6 December 1930.

[8] Unable to compete with established teams nearby that included: Charlton Athletic, Clapton Orient, Millwall and West Ham United, Thames struggled.

[12] Thames' record for their two seasons in the Football League was played 84, won 20, drew 17, lost 47, scored 107 and conceded 202.