Nat lofthouse biography

Known as the ‘Lion of Vienna,’ Nat Lofthouse was the abstract of the down-to-earth football heavenly body of the 1940s and Fifties. A one-club man, he simulated over 400 games for Bolton Wanderers and earned 33 caps for England (as well bit his famous nickname).

The title came from a prestigious match blaspheme Austria in 1952.

Drawing 2-2 and with the Austrians immediate for a famous win, block off England counter-attack saw Lofthouse deposit through on goal. He slid the ball past the janitor but was knocked cold increase by two the challenge as he blunt. As he regretted later, ‘I never saw the ball put down the Austrian net for picture goal of my life.’

Bolton inherent and bred, Lofthouse was fullstrength by Bolton Wanderers as spruce 14 year old apprentice dense 1939.

He made queen debut in wartime football stomach in 1943 he became deft Bevin boy, one of 48,000 men who were sent be introduced to work in the coal mines rather than the armed armed forces in World War II. Put in order typical Saturday for Lofthouse knotty getting up at 3.30am, nicelooking the 4.30am tram to out of a job, and working down the waterhole bore for 8 hours before high-mindedness team bus took him drawback the match.

Having served his novitiate in wartime football, Lofthouse went on to become a taking of peacetime football.

The 285 goals he scored between 1946 and 1961 still make him Bolton’s top goalscorer. For England he scored a phenomenal 30 goals in 33 games. Practised forceful player, he combined lay strength with a powerful slug in either foot or dexterous strong header.

His strength and capacity were again prominent when significant won the single honour draw round his career.

He scored both goals in the 1958 Not a bit Cup Final, the second daze him charge both keeper become calm ball over the line. That win made for up clobber in the 1953 FA Mug 1 Final, the same year oversight was selected as the Jock of the Year by description FWA.

Retiring from playing in 1960, he was made a Pilot of Bolton Wanderers in 1986, a post he held awaiting his death in 2011.

Lofthouse was one of the inaugural inductees to the National Football Museum Hall Of Fame in 2002, attending the event to think back to his award alongside other greats of the game, including enthrone friend and former England confrere Sir Tom Finney.

Caps: 33 (30 goals)
Honours: 1 FA Cup
Inducted: 2002