Darren Pratley

Darren Pratley

Pratley playing for Swansea City
Personal information
Full name	Darren Antony Pratley [1]
Date of birth	(1985-04-22) 22 April 1985 (age 39) [2]
Place of birth	Barking, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) [2]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Leyton Orient
Number	18
Youth career
0000–2002	Fulham
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2006	Fulham	1	(0)
2005–2006	→ Brentford (loan)	50	(5)
2006–2011	Swansea City	177	(26)
2011–2018	Bolton Wanderers	178	(12)
2018–2021	Charlton Athletic	103	(5)
2021–	Leyton Orient	118	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:10, 2 November 2024 (UTC)

Darren Antony Pratley (born 22 April 1985) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Leyton Orient as club captain.

Club career

Pratley playing for Swansea in 2010

Fulham

Starting his career at Fulham after signing from local rivals Arsenal, Pratley signed his first professional contract with the club in 2002. ^[3] He made his professional football debut in a League Cup match at Wigan Athletic on 23 September 2003, coming on as a substitute for Andrejs Stolcers, as Fulham went on to lose 1–0. ^[4] Pratley made his league debut against Charlton Athletic on 8 November 2003, again as a substitute, this time for Barry Hayles, as the club went on to lose 3–1. These turned out to be the only two matches he would play for Fulham. ^[5] At the end of the 2003–04 season, Pratley signed a two-year contract with the club, which will keep him until 2006. ^[6]

Brentford (loans)

Having spent the latter parts of the 2004–05 season on loan at Brentford, ^{[7] [8]} on 30 August 2005 Pratley moved back to the Bees until January 2006 on a loan period that was subsequently extended until the end of the 2005–06 season. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

Swansea City

On 8 June 2006, Pratley was sold by Fulham to Swansea City for a fee of £100,000. ^{[12] [13]} Upon joining the club, manager Kenny Jackett said: "Darren's a player I've admired for some time, so it's pleasing to have finally got him. A year ago he was hoping to impress Fulham enough to figure in their first-team plans, but he now realises he has got to move on in order to progress his career. Recently, we've been trying to sign young, athletic players who we view as good investments and Darren falls into that category. A hundred thousand pounds is a lot of money, but I certainly feel he's worth it." ^[13]

On 7 November 2009, Pratley scored a brace against their arch-rivals Cardiff City. Pratley had not scored for 26 matches since the previous season's corresponding fixture at the Liberty Stadium but he proved Swansea's hero on the hour to seal the win. ^[14] Pratley went on to score a further three times before the end of 2009, against Sheffield Wednesday (twice) and Reading. He started off the 2010–11 season well, however a string of poor performances saw him dropped by manager Brendan Rodgers. Pratley came back into the team performing well and getting vital goals against Reading, Crystal Palace a double against Bristol City and the third goal in the Championship play-off semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest which he scored from the halfway-line into an empty goal. On 9 June 2011, it was confirmed that Pratley would leave Swansea City having rejected a new contract. ^[15]

Bolton Wanderers

Pratley signed for Bolton Wanderers on 1 July 2011 on a four-year deal. ^[16] He made his debut when coming on as a substitute for Nigel Reo-Coker in Bolton's match at Queens Park Rangers on 13 August and scored his first goal for the club in their 2–1 victory over his former club Swansea City in the FA Cup on 28 January 2012. He scored his first Premier League goal in the match against Queens Park Rangers at the Reebok Stadium on 10 March in Bolton's 2–1 win. On 3 August 2013, the first day of the 2013–14 season, Pratley scored the equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Burnley. He then also scored in a 1–1 draw with Reading a week later. On 1 July 2015, Pratley signed a new-three-year contract that will keep him at Bolton Wanderers until the summer of 2018. ^[17]

A few weeks later Pratley was appointed as the new club captain of Bolton, replacing Matt Mills who had departed earlier that summer for Nottingham Forest. ^[18] He played the first match of the 2016–17 season, picking up an injury that ruled him out for seven months. When he was due to return in January, a further setback ruled him out for the rest of the season. ^[19] Pratley managed to return earlier than expected and started in Bolton's 4–2 win over Fleetwood Town on 11 March. ^[20] He was released by Bolton at the end of the 2017–18 season. ^[21]

Charlton Athletic

On 17 July 2018, Pratley signed a two-year deal with Charlton Athletic. ^[22] In the 2018–19 League One season, he played an important part in Charlton's playoff promotion winning campaign, scoring a crucial late goal in the Playoff Semi-final against Doncaster Rovers. At the end of the 2020–21 season, Pratley was not offered a new contract. ^[23] On 18 May 2021, it was announced that he would leave Charlton Athletic at the end of his contract. ^[24]

Leyton Orient

On 9 June 2021, Pratley agreed to join League Two side Leyton Orient, signing a one-year deal with the club active from the end of his contract with Charlton. Having previously worked with manager Kenny Jackett at Swansea City, Pratley was appointed captain. ^[25]

Pratley's contract was extended in 2022 and on 13 May 2024, the club announced he had agreed another one-year deal. ^[26]

International career

On 16 January 2009, Pratley was called up to the Jamaican squad by coach John Barnes to face Nigeria on 11 February 2009. Pratley qualifies for Jamaica through his grandparents but is yet to represent the Reggae Boyz after pulling out of the squad for the Nigeria friendly through injury after he broke his shoulder in a 4–1 win over Preston North End, although he did return earlier than expected from his injury.^{[ citation needed ]}

Career statistics

As of 3 November 2024

^{[27] [28]}

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Fulham	2003–04	Premier League	1	0	0	0	1	0	—		2	0
Brentford (loan)	2004–05	League One	16	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	16	1
	2005–06		34	4	4	0	0	0	0	0	38	4
	Total		50	5	4	0	0	0	0	0	54	5
Swansea City	2006–07	League One	28	1	2	0	1	1	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	32	2
	2007–08		42	5	3	1	0	0	5 [lower-alpha 2]	0	50	6
	2008–09	Championship	37	4	1	0	1	0	—		39	4
	2009–10		36	7	1	0	0	0	—		37	7
	2010–11		34	9	2	1	3	1	2 [lower-alpha 3]	1	41	12
	Total		177	26	9	2	5	2	8	0	199	31
Bolton Wanderers	2011–12	Premier League	25	1	4	1	3	0	—		32	2
	2012–13	Championship	31	2	3	0	1	0	—		35	2
	2013–14		20	2	1	0	2	0	—		23	2
	2014–15		22	4	2	0	3	1	—		27	5
	2015–16		36	1	3	3	0	0	—		39	4
	2016–17	League One	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	12	0
	2017–18	Championship	32	2	0	0	3	0	—		35	2
	Total		178	12	13	4	12	1	0	0	203	17
Charlton Athletic	2018–19	League One	28	2	2	0	0	0	4 [lower-alpha 4]	2	34	4
	2019–20	Championship	36	2	0	0	0	0	—		36	2
	2020–21	League One	39	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	41	1
	Total		103	5	2	0	2	0	4	2	111	7
Leyton Orient	2021–22	League Two	39	1	3	0	1	0	0	0	43	1
	2022–23		39	1	0	0	1	0	2 [lower-alpha 5]	0	42	1
	2023–24	League One	33	0	2	0	0	0	2 [lower-alpha 5]	0	37	0
	2024–25		7	0	1	0	3	0	2 [lower-alpha 6]	0	13	0
	Total		118	2	6	0	5	0	6	0	135	2
Career total			627	50	34	6	25	3	18	3	704	62

1. One appearance in the Football League Trophy
2. Five appearances in the Football League Trophy
3. Two appearances in the Championship play-offs
4. One appearance in the EFL Trophy and three in the League One play-offs
5. Two appearances in the EFL Trophy
6. Two appearances in the EFL Trophy

Honours

Swansea City

• Football League One: 2007–08 ^[29]
• Football League Championship play-offs: 2011 ^[30]

Bolton Wanderers

• EFL League One runner-up: 2016–17 ^[31]

Charlton Athletic

• EFL League One play-offs: 2019 ^[32]

Leyton Orient

• EFL League Two: 2022–23 ^[33]

References

1. "England - D. Pratley". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
2. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN   978-1-84596-324-8.
3. "Academy star turns pro". Fulham Official Website. 25 April 2002. Archived from the original on 14 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
4. "Wigan 1-0 Fulham". BBC Sport. 23 September 2003. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
5. "Charlton power past Fulham". BBC Sport. 8 November 2003. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
6. "New Deal for Pratley". Fulham Official Website. 13 May 2004. Archived from the original on 11 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
7. "Brentford | News | Latest News | Latest News | Pratley in Loan Switch". world.brentfordfc.co.uk. 21 February 2005. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
8. "Brentford | News | Latest News | Latest News | PRATLEY STAYS". world.brentfordfc.co.uk. 23 March 2005. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
9. "Pratley joins Bees". Fulham Official Website. 22 February 2005. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
10. "Pratley deal extended". Fulham Official Website. 23 March 2005. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
11. "Pratley joins Bees". Fulham Official Website. 30 August 2005. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
12. "Swans complete on Pratley". Sky Sports. 8 June 2006. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
13. "Pratley's at Liberty to play for Swans". Wales Online. 9 June 2006. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
14. "Swansea 3–2 Cardiff" BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
15. "Darren Pratley to leave Swansea City for 'fresh challenge'". BBC Sport. 8 June 2011.
16. "Bolton Wanderers   – General – Wanderers Snap-Up Pratley". 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011.
17. "Bolton: Ben Amos & Gary Madine sign as Darren Pratley stays". BBC Sport. 1 July 2015.
18. "Darren Pratley appointed club captain". Bolton Wanderers FC. 14 July 2015. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
19. "Darren Pratley: Bolton captain set to miss rest of season after surgery". BBC Sport. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
20. Iles, Marc (11 March 2017). "Le Fondre double against Fleetwood Town puts Bolton Wanderers back into automatic promotion hunt". The Bolton News. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
21. "Bolton Wanderers: Darren Pratley released as David Wheater has contract extended". BBC Sport. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
22. "Experienced midfielder Darren Pratley joins Charlton". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
23. "Darren Pratley: Charlton Athletic midfielder agrees contract extension". BBC Sport. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
24. "Squad update following completion of the 2020/21 season". www.cafc.co.uk.
25. "Darrent Pratley Signs for Leyton Orient". www.leytonorient.com. 9 June 2021.
26. "Darren Pratley: Leyton Orient captain, 39, signs new deal". BBC Sport. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
27. "England – D. Pratley – Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
28. "First team profiles Darren Pratley". Swansea City A.F.C. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
29. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2008). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2008–2009. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 45, 376–377. ISBN   978-0-7553-1820-9.
30. Fletcher, Paul (30 May 2011). "Reading 2–4 Swansea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
31. Anderson, John, ed. (2017). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2017–2018. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 66–67. ISBN   978-1-4722-3397-4.
32. Law, James (26 May 2019). "Charlton Athletic 2–1 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
33. "Leyton Orient 2-0 Crewe: Richie Wellens' side seal League Two title". Sky Sports. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.

External links

• Darren Pratley at Soccerbase
• Darren Pratley on the Bolton F.C. website