In response to penalty appeals, the referee awarded a corner. Nat Lofthouse began playing football as a very young boy. Harry Johnston (1951) and Syd Owen (1959), among others and more apparent candidates, Stanley Matthews and Tom Finney, won this award for their model-professional status, loyalty to club and country, and scrupulously fair approach to the game. Six years later, he was promoted to the head coach position, and the following year, he took to managing the club. That was the last moment of real glory for Lofthouse's playing career, and for Bolton as well. Playing at number 9 for Castle Hill, a position once occupied by Tommy Lawton at that point an England star young Nat firmly establishing himself as a school hero and, unbeknownst to him, earned a reputation among local scouts as the boy with such incredible heading ability that it was like he could kick with his head. The Bolton boys launched another attack, ending with a Ray Parry shot on goal. The award was given in recognition of his great skill with the ball at a time when English football was not known for its aesthetic beauty. The plan was for the statue to be funded by public donations, with help from the club. Mr Davies recalled the significant efforts Nat had made during the early eighties to raise money to help Wanderers avoid bankruptcy. He was the club's top scorer in 11 out of the 13 seasons between 1946-47 and 1958-59, with his highest tally in a season resting at 35 goals, attained in that final season of 1958-59. Both men were among the inaugural inductees to the Hall Of Fame. We may also very occasionally send you information about the museum via Facebook. Nat Lefthouse Biography, Career Info, Records & Achievements - Sportskeeda As a result, Nat Lofthouse was nicknamed the Lion of Vienna. As always, football matches were symbolic.. Lofthouse soon played for the Bolton Schools XI and made his debut in a 7-1 win over Bury Schools. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Lofthouse found the step up in quality in First Division defences hard to cope with, and he briefly considered leaving the game, as well as entertaining an offer from Tottenham, then of the Second Division. 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. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Lion Of Vienna Suite, a Bolton Wanderers community. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. In 1943, Nat Lofthouse was called upon to serve as a Bevin Boy at the Mosley Common coal mine. Lofthouse was the recipient of various honours after retiring from the game. Lofthouse is rightly remembered as the archetypal one-club man, but to call him that is to do him a disservice. His final match in an England shirt came just over a month later, a 2-all draw against Wales. Lofthouse wasn't just a career Bolton man, he was a lifetime Bolton man. I would say without fear or favor the man was more important to Bolton from 82 onwards than ever he was in the 50s.". The youngest of four sons, Nathaniel Lofthouse was born in Bolton on 27 August 1925. Half a century after Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), they were finally recognized as contributors to the war effort by Queen Elizabeth II. Harry says to Nat: "that's very nice of you." All Rights Reserved. On 22 March 1941, he made his debut for Bolton, scoring two goals in a 5-1 victory over Bury. The statue's pose was chosen by the club's fans as well as Nat Lofthouse's surviving family. England conceded 24 free kicks, while Austria conceded 19. Be in no doubt, the greatest number 9 and Bolton's finest son is of course Sir Nat Lofthouse. Musil had to commit fully before I struck the ball. It would have certainly resulted in a straight red card by today's standards, but was adjudged to be fair at the time. As he regretted later, I never saw the ball enter the Austrian net for the goal of my life.. 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. Nathaniel Lofthouse OBE (27 August 1925 - 15 January 2011) was an English professional footballer who played as a forward for Bolton Wanderers for his entire career. During Lofthouses career, Vienna played a crucial role. 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. It was a friendly against the old Yugoslavia, with Nat scoring both England goals in a 2-all draw. For as much as Bolton Wanderers shaped him, his career and his life, he too left an indelible mark on the club, defining the team's most iconic era and playing a pivotal role in saving the club during its most ignominious age. ], On 3 May 1958, almost five years to the day after losing the 1953 final, Lofthouse captained Bolton in the 1958 FA Cup Final against Manchester United. The phrase Lion of Vienna will be forever associated with 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 dark arts on more than one occasion. The Bevin Boy program came to an end in 1948. As far as Englands league goalscorers are concerned, Nat Lofthouse is 37th all-time. After Jackie Sewell restored the lead, Nat Lofthouse headed against the crossbar. He said: I would have an hour or two off to receive coaching from George and firmly believe that these private coaching sessions played a big part in my advancement. His strength and power were again prominent when he won the single honour of his career. Why was Nat Lofthouse called the Lion of Vienna? In doing so he was elbowed in the face, tackled from behind, and finally brought down by the goalkeeper. Back in the England line up for the World Cup, he scored three times including one in the 4-2 quarter final defeat at the hands of Uruguay. Nat Lofthouse OBE, the Bolton Wanderers and England legend, has passed away aged 85, leaving countless memories. Austria equalised just two minutes after Nat Lofthouses opening goal in the 25th minute, and while England once again gained the advantage shortly after, the teams went into halftime level at 2-2. The United lost emotion on the whole game at the end. Nat Lofthouse: The Lion Of Vienna - Boltom Wanderers Soccer Player His very style of football embodied Bolton, an appreciation for power alongside skill which is still part of the club today. He featured in the 1954 World Cup side. Richard Lofthouse brought up his family on a weekly wage of just 2 10s. He said of his career; For me Football is pleasure with pay. By 1951 it had begun to recover from the wars ravages. The previous week, Nat Lofthouse was heavily criticized, but now hes the great hero, according to the headlines. Times during and just after the war were hard for Bolton, especially after the "golden age", and Bevin Boys were commonly seen as cowards or unpatriotic men seeking to avoid the dangers of active combat. There was a tense atmosphere in both countries in 1952 when memories of recent misfortunes were mixed with a present sense of injustice and a zeal for spiritual and national renewal. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In 1953, it all came together. That didn't last long though, as soon as Lofthouse was placed up front and the goals flowed. This was touched on to Lofthouse on the halfway line by Finney. For the recognition of club and country, a statue stands outside Bolton's stadium. In his 1999 book, Bolton Wanderers, Dean Hayes illustrated what a typical day looked like for Lofthouse: "Bevin Boy Lofthouse's Saturdays went like this: up at 3.30 a.m., catching the 4.30 tram to work; eight hours down the pit pushing tubs; collected by the team coach; playing for Bolton. [3] Lofthouse went into a challenge with the United keeper Harry Gregg and barged him into the net to score. 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. The club remained close to him after that, and he served as its general manager, scout, and president as of October 1986. He was a pivotal figure in one of the true golden ages of the beautiful game, ending his career as the leading goal scorer for both his club and his country, with a reputation as one of the game's true greats. The 285 goals he scored between 1946 and 1961 still make him Boltons top goalscorer. In a football match bearing the weight of sport, politics, and differing ideologies, Lofthouse approached the pitch as though it were a battlefield, sacrificing his body (and probably a few brain cells) to win an important, poignant, and unexpected, victory for England. 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. Nat responds: "That's alright, Harry. Lofthouse would later say; The miners of Britain are the finest fellows in the world. Throughout the opening 20 minutes, Austria dominated, but England responded. [3], On 26 November 1958, Lofthouse made his final England appearance, against Wales, at the age of 33, and he officially retired from the game in January 1960 because of an ankle injury, although his final league game was not until 17 December of that year, when he suffered a knee injury against Birmingham City. Scot Foweraker, who started at the club as a gateman when the ground opened in 1895, had taken over as manager in 1919 and would go on to serve Wanderers for an outstanding 49 years, 25 as boss. Even when things were not in his favor, Lofthouse was not one to complain or pity himself. For 47 years after the program wound up, Bevin Boys were not recognized as full contributors to the war effort (despite being conscripted). [10] He married Alma Foster in 1947 and they remained married until her death in 1985. He later admitted that the experience in the mines helped his football career saying that his stint; helped toughen me both physically and mentally. Posts 7,107 Likes 2 Location swindon wilts. For the Daily Mail, Roy Peskett described the events clearly. Lofthouse would go on to play 33 games for England, but his debut on 22 November 1950 made him 25 when he finally broke into the team. On 25 May 1952, Lofthouse earned the title 'Lion of Vienna' after scoring his second goal in England's 3-2 victory over Austria. A one-club man, he played over 400 games for Bolton Wanderers and earned 33 caps for England (as well as his famous nickname). Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Nat Lofthouse Hall of Fame Profile - National Football Museum It was an unexpected win against all odds. Nat Lofthouse was born on 27 August, 1925 in Bolton, Lancashire, England, UK, is an Actor. Lofthouse had thunderous, crashing shots, coupled with a burning desire to get in the right place to unleash them. 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. Around 200 fans stormed the pitch after the final whistle sounded, creating a fantastic scene. Nat Lofthouse's ashes interred alongside those of his beloved wife Bill Ridding, the man that had managed Wanderers for 18 seasons, had left the club just before the start of the 1968-1969 season. A forward for Bolton Wanderers for the entirety of his career, Nat Lofthouse was an English professional footballer. 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. The Lion Of Vienna. by ReadTheLeague | May 24, 2021 | The Big Feature. Hurt scoring the winner against Ireland, Lofthouse missed the November 1953 match against Hungary at Wembley where the home team were hammered 6-3 and also suffered a wrist injury causing him to withdrew from the squad that went on a short tour in 1954 which included a 7-1 humbling at the hands of the same Hungarian team in Budapest. It was important not to strike the ball too soon. Six of their colleagues had died in the crash, including United's only goal scorer from that final, Tommy Taylor. Now they faced Austria, one of the worlds best teams, and one who had seriously threatened Englands precious unbeaten record at home to continental teams just one year before. There are many stories about footballers of the day who started developing at a later age simply because they were not able to afford even basic footwear and it was a gift of shoes by a family member or friend that really allowed them to get going. It was something that Lofthouse would later describe as "the worst moment of his life." He looked like a boxer at the end of a tough 15 rounds when he left the field. Lofthouse, battered and semi-conscious, was taken from the field but returned as a passenger minutes later, still proving fit enough to shoot an effort 30 yards into the goal. The wording of the epithet is indicative both of the era and the man himself. There was a light breeze and intermittent rain during the game. Dienst was tripped by Froggatt on the edge of the penalty area, and Huber equalized from the penalty spot. Not once after that did Nat protest or fight Bolton's decision. Lofthouse was battered on the field and left the field. This time he only managed to score a brace, the fourth and fifth goals in a 5-1 victory at Burnden Park. In the 16 international matches played since November 1949, 10 have been won, and only two have been lost.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'historyofsoccer_info-medrectangle-4','ezslot_5',182,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyofsoccer_info-medrectangle-4-0'); From Englands perspective, it was necessary to note that Austria had defeated Scotland twice during this run and achieved a 2-2 draw at Wembley. The first game finished 1-1 in Italy where Ivor Broadis got Englands goal and then came the match which earned that Lion of Vienna nickname. Cousin mourns UK football's 'Lion of Vienna' - NZ Herald Lofthouse was a one-club centre-forward who dedicated his life to Bolton Wanderers. It made me fitter than ever I had been before. Thousands of England fans attended the game at the Praterstadion in Viennas Soviet Zone, as evidenced by the Path film of the game. 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. Friendly internationals then held an importance that has now all but vanished, and Lofthouse's winning goal, in a 3-2 victory against a powerful team, was lauded to the . We had to do something quickly and we had no identity at that time. Born and bred in Bolton, Lofthouse earned his. Quite possibly the best football magazine in the World, 2023 All Rights Reserved - Read The League Built by B[]X, RIDE TO HELL. Nonetheless Lawtons legend was cemented locally and Nat became a huge fan, often travelling to Goodison Park to watch him play for Everton. In 1956, he finished as the First Divisions top scorer with 33 goals. Nat Lofthouse, the battering ram with a shrewd brain and heart of lion 1968 rolled around and Nat Lofthouse was appointed caretaker manager of the club. Not long after his retirement from football, Nat took control of the Castle Pub on Tonge Moor Road in Bolton. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Lofthouse Lofthouse was dubbed the "Lion of Vienna" after scoring the second goal in England's 3-2 triumph over Austria on May 25, 1952. He said later; I never saw the ball enter the Austrian net for the best goal of my life. A vote of the Football Writers Association members, which functions like a jury, selected the professional player who best exemplified footballers precepts and examples as the player of the year. Thousands more stood outside in the streets with speakers erected so that the public could hear the service. A runner-up medal and the Footballer of the Year award came to him in 1953, and a winners medal and the FA Cup in 1958. In 1957, he assumed captaincy of the club. After failing to score in the win over Scotland at Hampden the centre forward went on Englands 1952 summer tour. 16 January 2011 #1. Two goals in a win against Bury immediately had the few hardy souls willing to brave the football during the Blitz abuzz with excitement. Mr Lofthouse, known as the Lion of Vienna, died on 15 January aged 85.

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