Lofthouse mourned by Bolton and England
Sunday, January 16, 2011
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Nat Lofthouse, the former England forward who spent his whole playing career with Bolton Wanderers FC and was nicknamed the Lion of Vienna, has died in his sleep at the age of 85.
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Former Bolton Wanderers FC and England striker Nat Lofthouse has died in his sleep at the age of 85.
Lofthouse spent his entire playing career with his hometown club, making over 500 appearances and scoring 255 league goals between 1946 and 1960. He also struck 30 times in domestic cup competitions, including both goals in Bolton's 2-0 defeat of Manchester United FC in the 1958 FA Cup final at Wembley. Lofthouse was awarded an OBE in 1994.
On the international stage, Lofthouse – voted Bolton's greatest player in a poll conducted in 2006 – registered 30 goals in 33 caps for England. He was nicknamed the Lion of Vienna after a performance against Austria in 1952, when he was knocked unconscious after scoring the winning goal in a 3-2 victory.
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside said: "Nat is undoubtedly a Bolton Wanderers legend. He was a one-club man and our football club meant as much to him as he did to us."
After retiring in 1960 because of a knee injury, Lofthouse continued his association with the Lancashire outfit in a variety of positions including caretaker manager and club president.