David Pleat

David Pleat is the longest serving member of the LMA committee, having been elected in 1978. In 2012 he was inducted into the LMA Hall of Fame and was awarded an M.A. (Hons) at Luton University for his services to football and the media. A schoolboy and youth international, he joined his home town club Forest in 1962 making his debut as the youngest ever at the time aged 17 years and 33 days against Cardiff City in Division 1 and scored a 2-1 victory. In 1965, at the age of 23, he qualified as a Full Badge FA Coach. Injuries hampered his career and after spells at Luton, Exeter, Shrewsbury and Peterborough he was appointed player-manager at Nuneaton Borough on the recommendation of Peter Taylor and Brian Clough. After two and a half seasons, he joined Luton Town as reserve team coach and progressed to manager leading the club to promotion and winning the Championship by a record number of points. Competing at the top level for nine seasons culminated in Luton's 3-2 Wembley League Cup win against Arsenal. At Tottenham, his five-man midfield in 1987 won many plaudits with creative football from Ardiles, Waddle and Hoddle, resulting in a record scoring season for Clive Allen's 49 goals. Later appointments at Leicester, Luton and Sheffield Wednesday had varying ups and downs including two semi-final defeats and sadly one relegation. Alan Sugar appointed him the first Director of Football at Tottenham in 1998. Since 2005 he has held brief spells as an advisor at Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion, and a lengthy one at Nottingham Forest. He has enjoyed various media work over the years covering seven World Cups in either radio, television or print. His hobby is ‘football'.