Walter (Wally) Tranter originally came from Middlesbrough. He joined the Thames Iron Works as a boilermaker and played his first game in September 1897. That season the team won the London League, losing only one game, against Brentford in April, 1898. Appointed captain, Tranter led Thames Iron Works to the Southern League Division 2 title. Tranter joined Chatham in the 1899-1900 season. Thames Iron Works struggled without Tranter and finished second from bottom that season. Tranter briefly returned to the renamed West Ham United in 1900. However, he only played in four games before leaving to play in Northern Ireland.