▁ ▁However , ▁the ▁most ▁significant ▁competition ▁that ▁Th ames ▁Iron works ▁would ▁enter ▁that ▁season ▁would ▁be ▁the ▁London ▁League , ▁even ▁though ▁the ▁West ▁Ham ▁area ▁was ▁still ▁officially ▁part ▁of ▁Es sex ▁at ▁the ▁time . ▁ ▁It ▁was ▁a ▁se am less ▁transition ▁for ▁the ▁club ▁to ▁make ▁as ▁Th ames ▁Iron works ▁and ▁Sh ip building ▁Co . ▁Ltd ▁owner ▁Arnold ▁Hills ▁was ▁also ▁president ▁of ▁the ▁London ▁League , ▁and ▁along ▁with ▁Th ames ▁Iron works ▁F . C . ▁committee ▁chairman ▁Francis ▁Pay ne , ▁helped ▁to ▁draft ▁the ▁competition ' s ▁rules . ▁ ▁New ▁sign ings ▁for ▁the ▁season ▁included ▁Reading ▁players ▁Edward ▁Hat ton , ▁Peter ▁Dav ie ▁and ▁Frank ▁D and ridge . ▁H . ▁Ross iter ▁and ▁Hol mes , ▁would ▁also ▁join ▁from ▁the ▁Ber k shire ▁club , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁many ▁more ▁Th ames ▁Iron ▁Works ▁employees ▁that ▁still ▁provided ▁the ▁core ▁of ▁the ▁team . ▁ ▁In ▁their ▁first ▁ever ▁compet itive ▁league ▁fi xture ▁in ▁the ▁London ▁League , ▁st aged ▁at ▁the ▁Herm it ▁Road ▁ground , ▁on ▁ 1 9 ▁September ▁ 1 8 9 6 ▁Th ames ▁Iron works ▁beat ▁the ▁V amp ires ▁ 3 – 0 . ▁ ▁The ▁following ▁month , ▁" The ▁Ir ons " ▁went ▁out ▁in ▁the ▁FA ▁Cup ▁first ▁qual ifying ▁round ▁for ▁the ▁second ▁year ▁running , ▁losing ▁ 0 – 8 ▁away ▁to ▁Kent ▁Southern ▁League ▁team ▁She pp ey ▁United ▁on ▁ 1