Billy Pratt (footballer, born 1872)

This article is about the Small Heath winger. For the Small Heath full-back, see Billy Pratt (footballer born 1874).

Billy Pratt

Personal information
Full name	William Pratt
Date of birth	1872
Place of birth	Birmingham, England
Position(s)	Outside forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
0000–1889	St John's (Deritend)
1889–1892	Small Heath	22	(1)
1892–1898	Small Heath Unity
1898–1???	Worcester Rovers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

William Pratt (1872 – after 1898) was an English professional footballer who made 22 appearances in the Football Alliance playing for Small Heath.[1]

Pratt, born in Highgate, Birmingham, joined Small Heath in 1889. A winger whose strengths were dribbling and crossing the ball but who lacked pace,[2] he made his first-team debut on 19 October 1889, playing at inside left in a 2–2 draw away at The Wednesday in the Football Alliance. He became a first-team regular in the 1890–91 season, but lost his place to new arrival "Toddy" Hands in December 1890, played only twice more for the first team,[1] and dropped back into local non-league football in 1892.[2]

He is often confused with another Billy Pratt, a left back who did not join the club until 1894.[2]

References

1. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 140–41. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
2. Matthews, p. 118.