PRATT, John Arthur (1969-86)
Position: Midfield
Height: 5ft 8ins
Weight: 10st 3lbs
Born: Hackney, East London, 26 June,1948
Signed from amateur November 1965
Transferred to Portland Timbers, free
Also played for: Portland Timbers
Spurs Record:
Debut: 24 March, 1969 v Arsenal (FL) (a) lost 0-1
Appearances: League 307(24), FA Cup 23(5), League Cup 27(4), Europe 24(1)
Goals: League 39, FA Cup 2, League Cup 7, Europe 1
John Pratt was a player totally committed to Spurs, a player who, in today’s parlance, ‘played for the shirt’. The fact he played over 400 games for the club just backs up his importance to the cause.
Our former winger, Terry Medwin, spotted Pratt playing for Brentford’s youth team and recommended him to the Club. Initially a centre-half, Pratt never grew big enough to fill that berth but height and build were not so important at wing-half and he soon moved to that position.
He signed professional for us in May, 1965 and made his debut at Highbury in March, 1969, playing alongside Peter Collins as we were hit by injuries to Mike England and Phil Beal. Ray Evans also made his debut and the two youngsters did remarkably well in a makeshift defence, only a thunderous strike from well outside the box giving Arsenal the points. Pratt played most of the remaining games that season but with the new campaign, found himself on the fringes of the first team.
It was only following the disappointing FA Cup exit to Crystal Palace in early 1970 that Pratt got another real chance, Bill Nicholson ringing the changes to the team as a result of that Eagles defeat. Pratt was given the number eight shirt but had to step down with the arrival of Martin Peters.
Pratt continued to work away and eventually got his reward with a regular place in the starting line-up following Alan Mullery’s return to Fulham, only to sustain an injury in the first 20 minutes of the 1973 League Cup Final with Norwich City. Small consolation came in the 1974 UEFA Cup Final when he played in both legs.
The mid-70s to the end of the decade was not the best of times for us but things would have been a lot worse were it not for Pratt’s performances. He was always leading from the front,
working ceaselessly and giving everything he had. Whether it was snapping into a tackle, hustling back to cover in defence or tearing forward to support the attack, he never stopped working.
Often overlooked are the goals he contributed, a stunning, swerving 25-yarder against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final in December, 1972, among the highlights. Pratt was only outscored by John Duncan in the 1975-76 season.
While naturally disappointed by our relegation in 1977, the Second Division campaign that followed was one of his best. Ever-present, he contributed seven goals, his two edge-of-the-box volleys at Notts County in January, 1978 being particularly memorable.
Back in the First Division he found his place taken by Ricky Villa as the season got under way but was recalled after the 0-7 drubbing at Liverpool to add a bit of steel to midfield. Without Pratt doing the dirty work, Ossie Ardiles and Glenn Hoddle would not have been half as effective.
Reaching his 30s, Pratt was released in May, 1980 and spent three years with Portland Timbers before returning to us as youth team coach. Elevated to reserve team coach, he moved up to assistant manager under Peter Shreeves until the pair of them were dismissed in May, 1986.
His association with the club continued as he turned out for the Spurs Legends XI and became a familiar face in the hospitality areas at White Hart Lane and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium working as a matchday host.