Nat Lofthouse RIP

[SpiritofBurnden]

RIP Nat Lofthouse, and thank you for the '58 Cup Final.

 

[daveduke67]

Another Bolton supporter posted this over on a Wanderers site. It's an extract from a report on a game between BWFC and Man City with Franny Lee lining up alongside Lofthouse for Bolton. It's a great description of the era which the likes of Lofthouse and Trautmann graced. Well worth a read.

“Those who have attended Burnden Park have seen English football, sometimes at its best, but always with the native characteristics prominent. For the album of respected memories I would retain the match between the Wanderers and Manchester City, played – appropriately enough – on November 5th 1960. Under scowling skies, with ancient Pacifics passing threateningly over the heads of the crowd on the railway embankment, with crackers and catherine wheels in occasional and spirited combustion, the two teams played a fierce scherzo over the mud. Skill there was in plenty – if only in the way that twenty-two players contrived not merely to stand but also to move with speed and manipulate the ball; but skill engaged with vigour. The tackling was of a ferocity unknown in Barcelona, but regarded as axiomatic among the devotees at Burnden. It was, wrote W.R. Taylor in the Guardian, the sort of ‘blood and thunder match that no-one dared leave early in case he missed the odd murder or sending off. ...... Bolton knows what it likes, however, and this is it. The purists may rage and talk about the lost arts of English football, but the fact remains that the gate was almost double the average for the season so far. There is a moral somewhere.’

At inside-right for Bolton that day was Nat Lofthouse, in such a position for the first time in ten years – and in the season following that which, officially, saw his retirement. Outside Lofthouse was a new boy, sixteen-year-old Francis Lee, playing in his first match. Lofthouse’s function was tutorial – to see the boy through the rigours of a local Derby. The manner in which he conducted his function, now counselling, now encouraging, now putting the ball across for the outside-right to get the feel of it, was an inspiration : here was a player who cared for the game, for his club, and for the future. The attitude was symbolised by the final goal, which gave Bolton a welcome 3-1 win : Lee took a corner, and Lofthouse, rising high above both friend and foe, nodded the ball past Trautmann. That action took the years away, and joined others of equal claim in the annals of eternity.

There is English football; there are English footballers; and Lofthouse is, perhaps, in our time the most English of them all.”

‘Bolton Wanderers’ by Percy M. Young

Does he write for The Sun now? I'm sure I've read similar match reports.

I live in Bolton and, in forty years, I've never, ever heard anyone say anything other than complementary about the man. He always had time for fans and never refused to give an autograph.

When Bolton were at Wembley he spent time before the games walking round talking to the fans, signing autographs and posing for pictures. He signed my friends ticket. Unfortunately part of it was torn off at the turnstile.

He has a match stub with
'To Ray
Best Wi
Nat Lofth'

There was a post on here about what makes a football legend - this man ticks all the boxes.

RIP Nat. X

 

[Pigs foot]

Great to hear the tributes from proper football fans, Nat was a true working class hero never forgot where he came from will be sadly missed by many. RIP.

 

[SpiritofBurnden]

For anyone who wants to leave a message in the book of condolence:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.natlofthouse.co.uk/your-messages/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.natlofthouse.co.uk/your-messages/</a>

 

[fbloke]

For anyone who wants to leave a message in the book of condolence:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.natlofthouse.co.uk/your-messages/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.natlofthouse.co.uk/your-messages/</a>

Will definitely do that.

Thanks for the link.

 

[swpswp]

Spoke to Nat many times while working at The Reebok Stadium, he was a lovely man and will be sadly missed.

RIP Nat.

 

[SkyBlueLion79]

R.I.P

 

[kun]

R.I.P
Nathaniel Lofthouse O.B.E