Hugh Pratt (pictured above in the centre of the front row, representing the Schools XI in January 1990) was a tireless midfield footballer, playing for the Corinthian-Casuals in three seasons from 1963/64 to 1965/66 making 71 appearances and scoring 15 goals. In a side of talented footballers, his career was highlighted by two Sheriff of London Shield appearances against Arsenal (October 1964 at the National Recreation Centre, Crystal Palace and in September 1965 at Highbury), and an appearance in the 1st round Proper of the FA Cup. This was the first occasion that the Club was to reach this stage, and has been achieved only once since. The game against Watford was played on Dulwich Hamlet’s Champion Hill ground and attracted a crowd of 7,000. The result was a 1-5 defeat. Peter Phillips scored the our goal.
Born in Newcastle on 11 October 1943, Hugh came to London early in his life to live in Sutton where he went to the local grammar school. He played in the Surrey Grammar School’s side before, in 1962, he went to Nottingham University to read Geography. Whilst there he captained Nottinghamshire and the University, and played for the UAU, British Universities and England Universities. After graduating, he went into teaching before going to Christ’s College, Cambridge for a year’s post-grad course. He joined Corinthian-Casuals from Tooting and Mitchum in the 1963 close season. At Cambridge he won his soccer Blue in December 1965 at Wembley, Cambridge winning the match 3-2. The programme pen picture described Hugh as “a human dynamo, whose experience and abilities have proved invaluable”.
After taking a teaching position at Wellingborough, he left the Corinthian-Casuals during the 1966 close season, then joined Stevenage Town. Moving on to Hitchin Town for the 1968/69 season, he was part of the side who finished runner-up in the Isthmian League and, next season, won the London Senior Cup. He made 301 appearances for Hitchin, scoring 12 goals. Later (in 1978) he played for Letchworth Garden City and had a spell with San Diego Toros in the North American Soccer League. Hugh Pratt died at the beginning of March 2024, aged 80, after suffering from dementia.