8:44am UK, Sunday January 16, 2011
Former England footballer Nat Lofthouse, who was awarded an OBE for his services to the sport, has died at the age of 85.
Bolton Wanderers said Lofthouse was a 'legend'
His club, Bolton Wanderers, said he died peacefully in his sleep at his nursing home on Friday night.
Lofthouse made more than 450 appearances for the Trotters, scoring 255 goals for the club between 1946 and 1960.
He also represented England 33 times and scored 30 goals.
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside said: "On behalf of everyone at Bolton Wanderers Football Club, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Nat's family, who are very much in our thoughts at this time.
"Nat undoubtedly is a Bolton Wanderers legend. He was a one-club man and our football club meant as much to him as he did to us.
"We will miss him but we will celebrate his life, his legacy and great times that he brought to Bolton Wanderers."
Lofthouse was one of the most feared centre-forwards of his generation, renowned for his strength and finishing ability on the ground and in the air.
He became known as the Lion of Vienna after a goalscoring, match-winning - and pain-defying - performance in England's 3-2 win over a fearsome Austria side in 1952.
The other game he became synonymous with was the 1958 FA Cup final, when he scored twice in Bolton's 2-0 victory over Manchester United.
Lofthouse controversially barged United goalkeeper Harry Gregg into the net in the process of scoring one of his goals.
After retiring in 1960, Lofthouse remained at the club in a number of off-field positions including chief coach, chief scout, caretaker manager and club president, in which he remained until his death.
No comments:
Post a Comment