Full League History (05) : Thames

We touched on this on the other Thames thread of course...

A club which only existed for four seasons - two in the Southern League as Thames Association (1928-1930); two in the Football League as Thames (1930-32).

Thames sought election to the League after their first season in 1929. Exeter (42 votes) and Gillingham (35) were re-elected. Unsuccessful applicants: Argonauts - an amateur club with plans to play at the White City (6); Aldershot (5); Kettering (1); Thames (1); Llanelly (0).

When they tried again - in 1930 - Thames had only finished 3rd in their section of the Southern League, were in debt and had average crowds of 900.

The votes went like this: Gillingham (33 - re-elected); Thames (20 - elected); Aldershot (19); Merthyr (14 - not re-elected); Llanelly (4); Argonauts (0).

As Simon Inglis says in his history of the Football League, the story behind this was a mystery especially as Aldershot had won the league in which Thames played.

When it had all gone wrong by 1932, Thames resigned from the league and disbanded. Aldershot then got their chance.

Thames are an oddity amongst our Football League opponents. Three others come to mind in different ways: Merthyr Town (1927-1930); Gateshead (1958-1960); Maidstone United (1989-1991).