Pratt, David

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Personal

Fullname: David Pratt
Born: 5 March 1896
Died: 28 July 1967
Birthplace: Lochore, Fife, Scotland.
Signed: 2 June 1919 (from Hearts o’ Beath)
Left: 14 Nov 1921 (to Bradford)
Position: Outside-left
Debut: Celtic 1-1 Falkirk, League, 8 Nov 1919
Internationals: none

Biog

David Pratt began his football career with Lochelly Albert then Lochore United and signed for Celtic in June 1919 from Hearts o’ Beath. Outside-left David Pratt made his Celtic debut in a 1-1 league draw at home to Falkirk on 8th November 1919.

He was a war veteran having won the Military Medal in France during the First World War.

A versatile performer (“fast, well-built, tricky, able to do lots of smart things with the ball“) he played mainly for Celtic on the left-wing (even though originally thought of as a defender), but ultimately couldn’t retain a first team starting spot. Not sure whether Willie Maley discarded him for either not meeting expectations or just that there was a glut of quality players in the recent in-take.

Most of his appearances came in season 1920/21, where he was a regular in the side for much of the league campaign (albeit out  for a 3 month period from Dec-Feb). However, Rangers were dominant winning the league comfortably by ten points ahead of Celtic, although Celtic’s record that season was actually still good.

After 22 appearances for the Bhoys he was transferred to Bradford City in November 1921. He did get to play a single league game in the title winning season of 1921-22, albeit in a 2-1 away loss to Hibs, only one of two defeats for Celtic in the league the season. It was close, with Celtic pipping Rangers to take the title by just one point.

His only silverware were two Glasgow Cup wins, albeit he played in the 1920 Glasgow Cup final but only in a semi-final match for the 1921 Glasgow Cup triumph.

David Pratt played with Bradford City between 1921 and 1923 then transferred to Liverpool where he signed on in January 1923. He immediately became known for his mighty throw-ins as the Liverpool Echo revealed in the report on David Pratt ‘s Liverpool debut in a 3-0 home win against Blackburn Rovers on 17 February 1923:

“Pratt was amazing the crowd with some of his throw ins, I swear some reached the middle of the field. If he could develop this “Long Throw” it could be a useful asset if further up the field and would almost be like a corner.”

He played on for Liverpool until 1927.

David Pratt then went into management and managed the following clubs, being highly respected. Note, he was even on the shortlist to take over at Arsenal at one point. One thing that made him stand out was that he was a hands-on manager, dictating tactics and refusing to be deskbound (a far cry from many managers at the time including at Celtic).

• 1929–1933 Yeovil Town
• 1933–1934 Clapton Orient
• 1935 Notts County
• 1935–1937 Heart of Midlothian
• 1937 Bangor City
• 1944–1945 Port Vale

During the Second World War, he was a Flying Officer, and despite being the Port Vale manager towards the end of the war, he was unable to get his release from the services or even just the necessary time off, so really he was the manager in name only and little more.

He opined in some writings whilst a manager in “Sport in relation to everyday life” to the Yeovil Rotary Club:

“Sport as a factor in development we welcome as an ally, but sport as a dominant passion is an enemy of the soul.”

He passed away in July 1967.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

Pictures

• Player Pics

Sport in Relation to Every-day Life (David Pratt, ex-Liverpool F.C.)
Tuesday, June 11 – 1930
Sport as a passion
Football manager on an “enemy of soul”
Value & danger of spectacular games “Sport as a factor in development we welcome as an ally, but sport as a dominant passion is an enemy of the soul,” said Mr. David Pratt, manager of the Yeovil and Petter’s football team, in a striking address to Yeovil Rotary Club on Tuesday on “Sport in Relation to Every-day Life.”
Mr. Pratt said he found that Christians were divided in their attitude to sport. Some condemned sport utterly because of the evils associated with it – and he must admit there were evils in sport. Such people were firmly convinced that its general influence was bad, and easily out-balanced and good that might be derived by this means of filling the vacant places in the life of the man who had no mental resources. Others believed that Christian men could purify and ennoble sport, and took their share in its control. Then there were the “betwixts and betweens” who supported amateur events, but reserved their condemnation for professionals only. Our Lord was not a recluse, and His presence at marriage festivities, where there would be something like a sporting festival of running, jumping, and other games, suggested that He did not despise them. St. Paul drew many of his illustrations from the field of sports. It was significant that he was rescued from a furious mob at Olympia by the director of games. Onlookers, not participants
There was no question about the value of recreation, and most of the Churches encouraged games clubs of various kinds. The difficulty was with spectacular sports played by professionals in which thousands of people were onlookers and not participants. In industrial cities like Sheffield, Newcastle, and Sunderland it had been demonstrated beyond all question that football matches had helped to empty public-houses, and many women bought season tickets for their husbands.
Watching the game had a psychological and moral as well as social value, and with the strict rules enforced by the English Football Association and League there was the very minimum of foul play on the field, and there was little to complain of in the conduct of spectators. Betting was prohibited, bad language barred, and drunken persons were not admitted to the grounds. There might occasionally be bets between individuals; an excited partisan might occasionally colour his adjectives; but it was a fine tribute to the crowds that these were rare exceptions. Leading officials in both Association and League were Christian men closely associated with the Church, and they should be thanked for the way they controlled these affairs and the resolute manner in which they had opposed Sunday play. Good Friday games
One of these days – and he personally hoped it would be in the near future, if they supported the officials fully – they would take the further step of prohibiting matches on Good Friday and other festival occasions of the Church. Professional players, whom he regretted to say were at one time regarded as outsiders, were now not only men of character, but were valuable servants of the Church. In his old club, Liverpool, three members were capable of occupying the pulpit or reading lessons at religious meetings.
Where, then, did the danger lie? Absorption in sport was a public danger. There were those who made it the chief interest of their lives, and it was the only subject on which they could speak with any intelligence. “Their pleasures are unfitting them for the serious duties as come their way is all given to this study of football and betting form. ‘Bodily exercise profiteth a little,’ but when all cultural interests are crowded out by it, there is real danger to the life of the nation.” Balance in life
“While encouraging games, we must urge constantly the need for first things first, and while recognising the place of sport in the scheme of life, no ridicule, misrepresentation, or personal attacks should budge us from this position.” Some time ago he ventured to protest against regarding football players as heroes, and one journal poured abuse on him, suggesting that he was a narrow-minded person who found pleasure only in interfering with the happiness of others. (Laughter.)
That kind of thing must not deter theme from their plea for a well-balanced and truly proportioned life. Sport as a factor in development they welcomed as an ally, but sport as a dominant passion was an enemy of the soul. (Applause.) Capt. W.E. Palmer, who occupied the chair, said itw as very refreshing to hear a man who was an expert at his job, and had done so much for Yeovil football, speaking on so broad a platform, and showing such a broad philosophy of life. (Hear, hear.)
Alderman W.J.C. Pittard asked if the fact that there was so much professional football did not tend to make young fellows watch the game rather than play. In that town, and other, when a boy left school there was no preparations made for him to follow his own game of football. Mr. Pratt said he would admit he would rather witness an amateur match than a professional, because amateur football was played in a better spirit, but professional football did not discourage the amateur games. Coupon betting
Mr. H. Fowler said football coupon betting seemed to him the blackest part of professional football. He knew it was nothing to do with the clubs, but could the Football Association do something to put it down? Mr. Pratt said the Association were doing their very utmost to stop all betting. (Applause.) He was assured coupon betting was decreasing. Mr. H.E. Seaton said Mr. Pratt’s was one of the most interesting papers he had heard anywhere from anybody, and showed what sincerity meant in public speaking. (Hear, hear.) He thought the reasons youngsters did not play instead of watching the game were largely matters of housing, town planning, and the system of education. Their education was too much indoor. Mr. J.A. Gould, in proposing a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker, said the danger of professionalism was that a man was paid at varying rates according to whether his team won, drew, or lost. If the player got a fixed sum whatever happened they would get far better sportsmanship in professional teams. (Western Gazette, 13-06-1930)

David Pratt ahead of a proposed move to Everton in November 1921

Source: https://www.lfchistory.net/Players/Player/Profile/803