Dick Pratley was born in Banbury in 1963 and would come through the Banbury United under 16 team and progress to play in the Oxfordshire Senior League with the reserve side in season 1979/80 before being given his first team debut in a Birmingham Senior Cup Third Round game at home to Hednesford Town on Monday 22nd December 1980. He would have to wait a couple of months for his next appearance, a home Southern League Midland Division game against Kidderminster Harriers, but would play most games from that point on to the end of the season making a total of 16 league appearances that season as well as six in cup games.

Season 1981/82 would see Dick firmly established in the Banbury side as he made 41 out of a possible 42 league starts that season and also made 13 cup appearances. He also scored five goals. His final season with Banbury (1982/83) would see him make 27 league appearances out of a possible 32, the reduced number of league games played by the club being due to restructuring of the league. He would also that season make six cup appearances, scoring in all competitions three goals.

Banbury United 1982/83 squad photo:

Dick’s performances in season 1982/83 attracted the interest of then Second Division Derby County and he signed for them in July 1983 for a initial fee of £1,500 but an additional fee of £3,750 to be paid if he made 20 first team appearances and a further £3.750 if he made 40 first team appearances. He would make his first team debut for County in a 2-2 draw at home to Oldham Athletic on Saturday September 17th 1983.

Though a lot of Dick’s time at the Baseball Ground was spent in the reserve side (actually captaining them in 1985/86 when they became the first Third Division side to win the Central League Championship – photo shows Dick lifting the Trophy) he still made 31 Football League appearances for County between 1983/84 and 1986/87.

Dick also, whilst at the Baseball Ground, had a spell on loan at Scunthorpe United where he made 10 league appearances. Dick’s one goal in league football was scored for Derby County against Bournemouth in January 1985. Clearly the 31 Football League appearances triggered the first £3,750 additional transfer fee though he did not play enough cup games in his time at Derby to trigger the further payment of £3,750 for a total of 40 first team appearances.

Dick then moved to Second Division side Shrewsbury Town in February 1988 for a fee of £60,000 but after making 46 Football League appearances for them he was forced to retire from the game through a knee injury, his last game being at Bristol City in September of 1989. Having been unable to recover from his injury, despite numerous operations, he received a testimonial game which was played at Gay Meadow in August 1991 between Shrewsbury Town and his former club Derby County. After retiring from playing, Dick was given the opportunity to continue in the game as youth team coach by then Shrewsbury Town manager John Bond.

Dick was appointed manager of Mickleover Sports in October 2006, having had a short spell as assistant manager with the Derbyshire club under previous manager Martin Rowe. After winning the Northern Counties East League Premier Division Championship in season 2008/09, he then steered the club to their second successive promotion by winning the Northern Premier League Division One South Championship the following season.

With Mickleover Sports due to be playing at the same level as Banbury United in season 2010/11, Dick brought his side to the Spencer Stadium for a pre-season friendly in July 2010 which the Derbyshire side won 3-2.

Mickleover Sports did well enough in their first season at Premier Division level, finishing in 15th place, but were relegated back to Division One at the end of the following season. And with results not improving in the first half of season 2012/13, Dick was relieved of his duties in December 2012.

Here is a photo of Dick taken when he popped in from his Derbyshire home to watch Banbury United at Coalville Town back in November 2018.