Date of Birth
05 Mar 1896
Birthplace
Lochore, Fife
Nationality
Scottish
Signed for LFC
1923
LFC Debut
17 Feb 1923
LFC Appearances
84
LFC Goals
1
David Pratt joined Bradford City on free in November 1921 from Celtic where he had signed as a outside left. Pratt established himself as centre-half at Bradford City which was unfortunately relegated to the Second Divison in his debut season. Reports said he was "the mainstay of the defence."
Pratt signed for Liverpool in January 1923 and despite making 76 First Division appearances, the highest number of league games he played in during a single season was 26 in the 1924-25 season and his longest run of consecutive matches was 11, a feat he accomplished twice during that same season. David's only goal in 84 league and cup fixtures for the Reds came in a 6-3 thrashing of Newcastle United at Anfield on Christmas Day, 1925.
Pratt was manager of a number of clubs including Clapton Orient in Third Division South from 1933-35. When a move to Notts County, that has just been relegated to Third Division, looked on the cards, Orient supporters got up a petition to make him stay. Despite their protestations Pratt moved to Notts County where he never took charge of a competitive game as he took over at Scottish First Division Hearts the very same summer! Pratt had to juggle two jobs as manager and trainer at Tynecastle when a players' strike in October 1936 forced his assistant, Jimmy Kerr, to resign. Pratt felt the situation was intolerable and resigned four months later. When World War II broke out he served in the RAF. He accepted to become manager of Port Vale in December 1944, but was unable to gain release from the Air Force and subsequently Billy Frith took over as Vale's manager in August 1945.
Other Clubs:
Lochore Welfare, Lochgelly United, Hill O' Beath, Celtic, Bradford City, Bury, Yeovil & Petters United (amateur)