What is particularly interesting about this reserve team photo from November 1980 is that of the 12 players pictured, eight of them made first team appearances for the club. The most notable is Dick Pratley who, after making 120 appearances for the Puritans, went on to play in the Football League for Derby County, Scunthorpe United (on loan) and Shrewsbury Town. But also pictured is another local lad in Colin Darvell who made 163 appearances for the club.

The photo was taken before the reserve team’s Midland Combination game against Ludlow on Saturday 29th November 1980. The game finished in what the local press described as a rather tame goalless draw.

The players in the photo are:

Back Row (Left to Right): Barry Stephens, Dick Pratley, Colin Darvell, Robeert Amor, A. Potter, Gary Cooper, Paul Smith.

Front Row (Left to Right): Stuart Boulton, Terry Falkner, Darryl White, Steve Davies, Chris Coleman.

Central defender 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. That season also saw him make two first team appearances in Bucks & Borders Floodlit League games. After making nine appearances the following season, he would in season 1980/81 establish himself at the heart of the Banbury defence from February 1981 onwards, making 22 appearances that season. Virtually an ever present in seasons 1981/82 and 1982/83, his performances attracted the interest of then Second Division Derby County and he signed for them in July 1983.

Dick’s career at Banbury saw him make a total of 120 first team appearances, scoring nine goals.

Banbury United 1982/83 squad photo:

Dick signing for Derby County earned Banbury an initial fee of £1,500 but an additional fee of £3,750 was to be paid if he made 20 first team appearances and a further £3.750 if he made 40 first team appearances.

Here is a letter from Derby County setting out the agreed terms of the transfer.

Dick would make his first team debut for County in a 2-2 draw at home to Oldham Athletic on Saturday 17th September1983. 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.

Whilst at the Baseball Ground, Dick 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 local home to watch Banbury United at Coalville Town back in November 2018.

Aside from Dick, seven of the players pictured in the reserve team photo made first team appearances for the club. Defender Colin Darvell, the son of club legend Roger, made 120 appearances in a number of spells with the club between seasons 1973/74 and 1988/89.

Barry Stephens between seasons 1972/73 and 1985/86 made 50 first team appearances and Terry Falkner between 1978/79 and 1984/85 made 51. The others are Chris Coleman who made 44, Darryl White 25, Gary Cooper 20 and Steve Davies 7.