[3] Owner of a wood-yard in Wanstead, London, Pratt took over the chairmanship of West Ham in 1950 after the death of Will Cearns.

One of his first jobs was to oversee the transition of managers from Charlie Paynter to Ted Fenton.

Pratt moved Fenton into The Boleyn Ground several months before the anticipated end of Paynter's managership, to prepare him for the job.

It was with Pratt's approval that Fenton, with Wally St Pier, set-up the youth teams and training methods which led to The Academy of Football and the establishment of training facilities at Chadwell Heath.

[7] He retired from the chairmanship in May 1979, aged 74, after 29 years in the post becoming club president and handing over to Len Cearns.