Death of an English football great

Bolton legend Lofthouse dies aged 85

January 16, 2011
By ESPNsoccernet staff
Former England international Nat Lofthouse OBE has died aged 85, Bolton have announced.



• Bobby Charlton pays tribute to Lofthouse
• Bolton blog: Tribute to Nat Lofthouse

The former Bolton centre forward, who was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002 died peacefully in his sleep at his nursing home on Saturday.

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside told the club's official website: "On behalf of everyone at Bolton ...

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Nat Lofthouse factfile

1925: Born August 27 in Bolton.

1939: September 4 - Signed for Bolton on amateur terms.

1941: March 22 - Made his debut against Bury, scoring twice in a 5-1 win.

1946: August 31 - Following the conclusion of World War II, finally made his league debut against Chelsea to begin a one-club career which saw him make over 500 appearances for his home town club.

1950: November 22 - Made his England debut, scoring both his side's goals in a 2-2 draw with Yugoslavia at Highbury.

1952: May 25 - In a legendary performance which earned him his nickname of 'The Lion of Vienna', Lofthouse scored twice in England's 3-2 win over Austria, returning to the action after being knocked out and suffering a knee injury.

September 24 - Scored six goals in a game between the English Football League and the Irish League.

1953: May 2 - Captained Bolton in the legendary 1953 FA Cup final at Wembley, scoring a goal and also hitting the post as Blackpool,.inspired by winger Stanley Matthews, won the game 4-3. Lofthouse was also named English Footballer of the Year after scoring 30 goals in the First Division.

1958: May 3 - Scored both goals as Wanderers beat Manchester United at Wembley to win the FA Cup. The second goal, which has gone down in football folklore, saw Lofthouse bundle United goalkeeper Harry Gregg into the net along with the ball, knocking him unconscious.

November 26 - Made his final England appearance against Wales. His 33 caps yielded 30 goals.

1960: December - Retired after a serious knee injury, making a farewell appearance against Birmingham. He scored 255 league goals for Bolton.

1961: Appointed assistant trainer at Bolton.

1967: Took on the role of chief coach.

1968: December 1 - Appointed as manager of the club after a brief spell in the role on a caretaker basis.

1978: Became Wanderers' executive manager.

1986: Was named as Bolton club president, a role he held until his death.

1989: Awarded the freedom of Bolton.

1994: Received an OBE in the New Year's Honours list.

1997: Bolton named their new Reebok Stadium's East Stand and its corporate hospitality area the Nat Lofthouse Stand and the Lion of Vienna Suite

respectively. 2002: Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.

2006: Was voted Bolton's greatest ever player in a fans' poll.

2011: January 15 - Died peacefully in his sleep, aged 85, following a long illness.

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