London, EnglandEst. 1895“The Irons”

Retro Thames Ironworks Shirts & Clothing

Classic Irons shirts in claret and blue, the colours the shipyard team made its own in 1899, including 1950s and 1966 designs, plus a 12th Man T-shirt. Our retro shirts are made from 100% cotton.
Shop all 3 Thames Ironworks productsRead the Thames Ironworks kit story ↓
Thames Ironworks 12th Man T-Shirt (Maroon) Thames Ironworks 12th Man T-Shirt (Maroon)
Est. 1990The original retro shirt company
100% cottonAuthentic look and feel
Adults & kidsSizes S–5XL, plus kids’ range
Name & numberPersonalise any shirt
The collection

Thames Ironworks Retro Kits

3 products
Kids’ shirtsSizes for ages 3–13 → Red retro football shirt personalised with any name and number 10 Add a name & numberPeriod-correct lettering →
About the collection

The Thames Ironworks kit story

Thames Ironworks kit timeline
  1. 1895Founded by Arnold Hills, owner of the Thames Ironworks shipyard
  2. 1897Memorial Grounds open on Jubilee Day
  3. 1899Claret and blue adopted for home games
  4. 1899Southern League Division Two champions
  5. 1900The club is reformed under a new name

Claret and blue has been the colour of east London football since the days of the Thames Ironworks shipyard. Our retro Thames Ironworks shirts and classic Thames Ironworks kits carry those colours, made from 100% cotton with no modern sponsor or manufacturer logos.

A shipyard team

Thames Ironworks Football Club was founded in 1895 by Arnold Hills, owner of the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, with foreman Dave Taylor. The team’s nickname, the Irons, came from the works. In 1897 the club moved to the Memorial Grounds, built at Hills’ own expense and opened on Jubilee Day.

Claret and blue

The first shirts were dark blue, reflecting Hills’ Oxford University connections. The club later took up the iron works’ claret and sky blue, and adopted it permanently for home games in the summer of 1899. That season the Irons also won the Southern League Division Two title.

The colours live on

In 1900 the club was wound up and reformed under a new name, taking Thames Ironworks’ place in the Southern League, and the claret and blue went with it. Our Thames Ironworks 1950s Retro Football Shirt, the Thames Ironworks 1966 Home Kids Retro Football Shirt and the Thames Ironworks 12th Man T-Shirt (Maroon) keep them going. Explore more in our retro Championship shirts collection and our kids’ range.

Thames Ironworks shirt FAQs

Why do Thames Ironworks play in claret and blue?+

The club took up the claret and sky blue house colours of the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, adopting them permanently for home games in 1899.

Why are Thames Ironworks called the Irons?+

The club was founded in 1895 as the works team of the Thames Ironworks shipyard, and the nickname comes from those roots.

Can I add a name and number to my Thames Ironworks shirt?+

Yes. Choose a name and number for £12, or just a name or just a number for £7.50. We match the lettering style to the era of your shirt.

What sizes do the Thames Ironworks shirts come in?+

Adult shirts come in sizes S to 5XL, and we make a kids’ range too. Check the size guide on each shirt for chest measurements.

Can I return my shirt?+

Unpersonalised shirts can be returned within 14 days. Personalised shirts are made to order, so they can’t be returned unless faulty.