West Ham United turned 120 years old yesterday 5th July 2020!

Although Thames Ironworks FC was founded on 29th June 1895 that team was wound up and a new company formed on 4th July 1900.

120 years ago at 55 Barking Rd, Canning Town, the offices of the Thames Ironworks sports and social club, seven local businessmen signed the document that formed West Ham United Football Club. The document was filed the next day 5th July and the new club we know today was born.

Those seven men backed by another three were the club’s first directors, each buying 10 shares and Arnold Hills the owner of  Thames Ironworks agreed to put up half the money needed to start this new club and allow them free use of The Memorial Fields Ground for a period of time.

Ten of that team in that team lived around Canning Town or Plaistow, one lived in Forest Gate and one in Ilford.

Some were clerks at the Ironworks, a couple were associated trades, one was even a pig farmer whose farm was roughly where the BP petrol station is on the A13.

The document the founders signed undertook to conduct and carry on the business of TIWFC but this was still a new club with a different setup and with new directors.

Watch episode two of Nigel Kahn’s a brief history of West Ham below to commemorate the important anniversary.