That's the thing more than anything else. It was one of the first instances of a personal worrisome streak that was completely at odds with his public persona. . When he wasnt on form, neither was the team. Thankfully for Bolton, the games in which Lofthouse wasnt on song were becoming fewer and fewer. The performance certainly cemented Nats place as Englands number nine and six goals for the Football League against the Irish League further underlined it. In the following days Weekly Dispatch, John Robertson wrote; Lofthouses first goal left me open-mouthed. He was forced to retire at the age of 35 because of his persistent injuries. Known as the 'Lion of Vienna, Nat Lofthouse was the epitome of the down-to-earth football star of the 1940s and 1950s. With the extensive scouting networks and multi-tiered academies of nowadays simply not existing in the 1930s, Lofthouse was staring into the footballing abyss as he left school at 14. In 1953, it all came together. Additionally, he and Tom Finney had the England scoring record together until Jimmy Greaves came along. Lofthouse wasn't very good in goal though, conceding seven goals in his first outing. His efforts did see him awarded the title of FWA Footballer of the Year, an accolade that went nicely with the moniker, his most famous, that hed earned the year before. His most memorable performance,. They did not have a particularly tough path to Wembley facing mostly Division 2 and 3 sides, although they did knockout Division 1 champions of that season Wolverhampton in the quarter finals. For a time it appeared that he might not re-sign with the club for the 1957-58 season but he eventually relented and stayed at Burnden Park. In front of 65,500 fans at the Prater Stadium, including hordes of British soldiers, Lofthouse gave England the lead when he smacked home a half-volley from 12 yards after being set up by Jackie Sewell. For England he scored a phenomenal 30 goals in 33 games. In the first match of that campaign they travelled to London to play Chelsea matching him up against hero Tommy Lawton. Be in no doubt, the greatest number 9 and Bolton's finest son is of course Sir Nat Lofthouse. Any hopes of the Three Lions traditional end-of-season tour being a relatively sedate one had been dashed in their opening game, a frustrating 1-1 draw in Florence in which Englands Italian opponents had resorted to the, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Nat Lofthouse: the Lion of Vienna and the gent of Bolton, Remembering the disaster of 1991/92, Bayern Munichs worst season in modern history, Rio, 1989: Chilean skullduggery, hidden razor blades and Brazilian flares, Brighton and Crystal Palace: the rise of a rivalry separated by 39 miles, The madness of Liverpools first foray into European competition, The tale of Queens Park: the early innovators who became last of the amateurs, Bobby Robson, Ipswich Town and a brutal quest for the 1981 treble. He later served as chief scout, caretaker manager, executive manager and as the clubs president from 1986. Sign up to our fortnightly newsletter below. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Both men were among the inaugural inductees to the Hall Of Fame. On 25 May 1952, Lofthouse earned the title 'Lion of Vienna' after scoring his second goal in England's 32 victory over Austria. Nat joined Burnden Parks backroom staff several years ago, eventually becoming the clubs manager in August 1968. Lofthouse once said of the Preston Plumber; He was that good he could cross the ball making sure the laces were facing away from my head.. Matilda is a Texan in Paris and Mark is a Georgian (the country) in New York. Football was also a significant sport for the two nations. On 22 March 1941, he made his debut for Bolton, scoring two goals in a 5-1 victory over Bury. We are a registered charity; This win made for up defeat in the 1953 FA Cup Final, the same year he was selected as the Footballer of the Year by the FWA. ALTHOUGH he earned a great deal of his reputation, and indeed his nickname, for one performance, Nat Lofthouse, 'The Lion of Vienna' was a tremendous servant for his country for eight years, bagging 30 goals in just 33 games, and for his club for over 30 years. With no club having shown an interest and his days of regular organised football coming to an end, it appeared that any chance he had of making it as a professional was over, before one of his final days at school where he was to be commended at the annual prize-giving ceremony. Elliotts pass to Baily was impressive. Too young for military service, Nat was determined to work hard on and off the field. Despite the double strike many, including leading football writer John Thompson remained unconvinced. Thanks to his size, a healthy 12 stone (168 pounds) by age 15, he was played up front in a center forward position and it was there that Nat thrived. The words so often used to describe how he acted in public fearless, brave, lionheart in the words of Stanley Matthews reflected a reputation as a player of almost biblical determination, but one who was privately beset by worry at various points throughout his career. Lofthouse was at his imperious best, plundering goals at a rate that even the sportswriters who had grown up watching the likes of, The England camp was tense as dawn broke in Vienna, Austria, on the morning of 25 May 1952. The view was clearly shared by the selectors as it was back in reserve with Newcastles Jackie Milburn at the head of Englands attack. Lion of Vienna Suite Nat Lofthouse East Stand, sponsored by Eventura Providing a match day experience that is perfect for family, friends and fellow Bolton Wanderers fans, the Lion of Vienna Suite offers a relaxed atmosphere with its own pay bar and LED TV screens. Lofthouse stands eighth in the list of English football's top division all time goalscorers.[4]. Italy had already won the World Cup twice, and football had returned to its former glory following the war. Sculptor Sean Hedges Quinn will depict the captain leading his team onto the pitch and will be emblazoned with Nat's final words: "I've got the ball now, it's a bit worn, but I've got it.". Thread starter leefer; Start date 16 January 2011; leefer Loyal Member. A one-club man, he played over 400 games for Bolton Wanderers and earned 33 caps for England (as well as his famous nickname). However, given his family's financial stance and the need to care for four boys, the young Lofthouse could not afford to pay for entry into Burnden Park to watch his beloved Whites. In the 11th minute, Melchior hit Eckersley with a shot that struck his arm. Once Lofthouse arrived Hunt moved to right-half and was later transferred to Sheffield Wednesday. The goal he scored when coming on as substitute for the injured Tommy Taylor against Finland in Helsinki was the 29th for his country taking him past Steve Bloomer as Englands all-time leading scorer. Two goals in a 5-1 win gave a taste of what was the come. Because the move came before the age of player power and agents controlling moves, Nat didn't have any say in the matter. In his 14 years at Bolton between . His lifelong dedication to the club was not work, but a manifestation of who he was. To be awarded the label of Lion, once reserved for realm's greatest warriors, is to be christened with one of England's most enduring symbols. All in all, he tallied up 255 goals in 452 league games, and 30 goals in 51 cup matches. [10] He married Alma Foster in 1947 and they remained married until her death in 1985. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Its difficult to discuss Nat Lofthouse without resorting to clichs. Quick off the mark, an ability to shoot with either foot, with strength and agility in the air an innate ability to be in the right place at the right time. Boltons all-time greatest player was a gentleman throughout the league. His devotion to Alma was matched only by his love of Bolton, and true to form, that Saturday Nat got married in the morning then played football in the afternoon at Burnden Park. The wording of the epithet is indicative both of the era and the man himself. On 24 August 2013, a statue was dedicated. The evening of Saturday, 15 January 2011, Nat Lofthouse passed away at the Bolton nursing home. Around 200 fans stormed the pitch after the final whistle sounded, creating a fantastic scene. Lofthouse scored all seven goals for Bolton. Lofthouse earned full international recognition when he was called up to play for his country against Yugoslavia at Highbury in November 1950. The FA XI were unbeaten in their 11 matches but Lofthouse still managed to finish on a losing side. During the game, Nat was told to play in net, and being the kind of child that relished the opportunity to get on the field, didn't complain. The OBE was awarded to him in 1994. In addition to their colorful rosettes, red, white, and blue rattles, and chants of England, they instilled a carnival atmosphere around the stadium, evoking the atmosphere associated with an FA Cup match. I could hear the hounds setting off after me but I knew it was basically down to me and [Austrian goalkeeper Josef] Musil. The sickening collision between striker and keeper left Lofthouse knocked out cold. Shortlisted for the Telegraph Sports Book Awards Biography of the Year. Everyone left with a scar or bruise.. The ball came in and fell to Tom Finney, Lofthouses long-time England cohort and close personal friend, who expertly set his centre-forward away. The phrase Lion of Vienna will be forever associated with Lofthouse. Nat Lofthouse was one of the post-war giants of football who had a glittering career with Bolton Wanderers, his only club, and England. Born and bred in Bolton, Lofthouse earned his. Nat Lofthouse scored his last goal for the Three Lions on Oct. 22, 1958 in a 5-1 win over the USSR. On 24 January 2011 in Bolton Wanderers first home game since his death against Chelsea, a pre-match period of a minute's silence, thunderous applause, black-and-white footage of Lofthouse in action and the laying of floral tributes by Kevin Davies and John Terry took place before the start of the match. As much as he was a one-club man, Bolton Wanderers will forever remain a one-man club. Former Bolton captain Kevin Davies and then manager Owen Coyle were among the pallbearers.[16]. Lofthouse opened the scoring but Austria came back, and with the game deadlocked at 2-2, began to exert significant pressure. The funeral was held 11 days later with 500 invited guests and members of the public inside Bolton Parish Church. Lofthouse was witness to a Bolton Wanderers golden age of top flight success throughout the 1930s and although the Trotters won three FA Cups in Nat's life time, he was too young to witness the 1926 and 1929 wins over Manchester City and Portsmouth. Eulogies were offered by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside and Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor, a boyhood Bolton fan and former Wanderers player. Bolton were then beaten in the semi-final by Derby County. Who Was Known as the "Lion of Vienna"? - Sportsmanist To prove it, they battered England with arms, legs and heads. Outside the church, it was former Bolton manager Jimmy Armfield (1971-1974) who perhaps summed it all up best: "It's the fact that he was a one-club man. The only identity was Nat Lofthouse. Over his international career, launched at such a late age, he scored 30 goals in 33 games, a scoring ratio that is unmatched by any England player with more than 5 appearances to this day. Due to hostilities, Lofthouse didnt make his league debut for Wanderers until the 1946-47 season. He said of his career; For me Football is pleasure with pay. He wasn't part of an illustrious academy early on, like those you see in the modern game. It was a close match, and neither side was shy about using force, a game far away from today's well-regulated affairs. In the spring, he was awarded the Football Writers Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year title, a clear indication that he had achieved the status of a model professional. Soon after Lofthouse's death a swell of support for a statue to be built in his memory started. However, the lead was short-lived. . Lofthouse had thunderous, crashing shots, coupled with a burning desire to get in the right place to unleash them. Back from national team duty, he then scored six goals in a game for the Football League against the Irish League on 24 September 1952. A few years later, on Sept. 4, 1939, the day after World War II broke out in Europe, as nearly all of the Bolton first team went off to war, Lofthouse went to Burnden Park, put pen to paper and signed for Bolton Wanderers as a youth player. The previous week, Nat Lofthouse was heavily criticized, but now hes the great hero, according to the headlines. Returning on the bus after the game he was shocked to find Tommy Lawton waiting for him. The statue's pose was chosen by the club's fans as well as Nat Lofthouse's surviving family. He scored a goal but was on the losing side in the famous 1953 FA Cup Final (aka 'The Matthews Final'), having previously scored in each round. He also topped the list of Division 1 scorers with an impressive tally of 30 goals. Viennas Soviet Zone is home to the Praterstadion, where the match was played. There is no doubt he gave everything to his club, and to the game. Discover Nat Lofthouse's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. A year ago today, Bolton Wanderers announced plans to immortalize the Lion of Vienna with a statue in front of the Reebok Stadium.
Lost Ark Paladin Awakening Skills,
University Of Arkansas Baseball Prospect Camp,
Articles W