Non-league English footballer earns earliest ever red

AFP - 29 December 2008 12:05

A referee brandishes a red card. David Pratt, a striker with English non-league side Chippenham Town, has earned himself an unwanted place in the record books after getting himself sent off just three seconds into a match, media reports said Monday.

LONDON (AFP) - David Pratt, a striker with English non-league side Chippenham Town, has earned himself an unwanted place in the record books after getting himself sent off just three seconds into a match, media reports said Monday.

Pratt, 21, was red-carded after lunging at Chris Knowles of rivals Bashley straight from kick-off.

Bashley won the British Gas Southern Premier League game but Pratt, a plumber in his day job, insisted the sending off was harsh.

"I felt hard done-to by the ref's decision but he thinks it was a red card so I have to take it," he said.

"The world record is not a big deal for me, its not something that I'm proud of," added Pratt, described by Chippenham Town secretary George McCaffrey as "a mild-mannered young man" and "a really nice lad."

The previous record for a swift red was was held by Bologna star Giuseppe Lorenzo, dismissed for thumping an opponent 10 seconds into an Italian league game in 1990.