EPW024263 ENGLAND. West Ham Football Stadium, Custom House, 1928

Is Thames AFC the same as Thames Iron works F.C as a book i've got states that Thames wound up in June 1900 and relaunched a month later playing at Memorial Ground,Canning Town until 1904 when they moved to the Boleyn Ground.Wonder if another Thames played there from '28 to '34?

Thames Ironworks became West Ham United (thus their nicknames of 'The Hammers' or 'The Iron' pertaining to their historical connection to iron-working). Thames Association were a short-lived attempt to make use of this stadium which was great in extent than Wembley! They got into Division 3 South but soon foundered. There was NO connection between the two clubs other than the work Thames which is quite common in London!!!

The stadium later became known as the Custom House Stadium and West Ham Hammers Speedway team raced there. It was pulled down some time again and is now a housing estate. I visted it and drove round it earlier this year (2012).

There is a better history of this venue in Simon Inglis' the Football Grounds of Britain/Great Britain books.

I'm afraid this is not The Memorial Grounds; it is Custom House - they are not the same places. The Custom House Stadium, as already remarked, has long since gone and is now a housing estate with road names which echo famous speedway riders. The Memorial Grounds was the original home of Thames Ironworks FC. It still exists as a sports arena (look here: http://maps.google.co.uk/) in which you will also be able to discern the faint outline of a cycle and motorcycle track (it was concrete and not a speedway) around the outside of the ground itself. The stands are all gone however. It is adjacent to the East London Cemetary.



So this photo should be re-titled as Custom House Stadium.