in 1893, the former workers' team at the royal arsenal in woolwich, woolwich arsenal fc, was by now a professional side and had joined the football league. the workers at the royal arsenal, some of whom still played as amateurs for woolwich arsenal, proposed a new workers' team to fill the void, and so the same year founded royal ordnance factories fc. five amateurs from woolwich arsenal defected to the new side: peter connolly, william george, jack mcbean, jimmy meggs and mckenzie; two more, bobby buist and william stewart joined them later. additionally, one of arsenal's founders, david danskin was also associated with the side as an official and referee.