[3] In doing so he was elbowed in the face, tackled from behind, and finally brought down by the goalkeeper. He is third in the Premier League (old Division 1) list behind Jimmy Greaves (357) and Alan Shearer (283). Between 1950 and 1958, he played 33 times for the England national football team. Find him, you got a winner. Curse of the number nine - Lion Of Vienna Suite 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. In early 1947 he asked for a transfer with Tottenham Hotspur said to be seriously interested in his services but the Bolton board turned the request down and he quickly got back to business finishing the season as the clubs top scorer with 18 goals, a feat he repeated in the following campaign. The same was true of his debut, which arrived in 1940, aged just 15. . To prove it, they battered England with arms, legs and heads. The OBE was awarded to him in 1994. However, partially due to this, Nat Lofthouse did not always experience the utter adoration of the fans. Nat was the youngest of four boys. In 1953, it all came together. A) 20 B) 30 C) 40 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. 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. "He was probably one of the best centre forwards England ever had, very aggressive and combative with great speed. In doing so he was elbowed in the face, tackled from behind, and finally brought down by the goalkeeper. It was much like the story told about the war that had now ended they were battered and bruised but had come out on top. Compared to the broadsheets, tabloid match reports treat the occasion as a related event to the war. That changed in the 1952-53 season. (Subs) Ronnie Allen, Ivor Broadis, Bill Nicholson, Stan Pearson, Bert Williams. This evening, the Prater Stadium in the Soviet sector was crowded by cheering, khaki-clad British soldiers waving Union Jacks. NAT LOFTHOUSE is a name that rings through the annals of English football history like few others. Harry sees Nat manning the bar and the two talk for a while with Gregg finally ordering a pint. Telephone: 0161 605 8200. Thompson would later write: I came away with the impression that Lofthouse was game and persistent, a fine footballer, but not quite an England leader. The Austrians went on the offensive to boot every English player on the pitch. Harry Gregg, a survivor of the crash who would go on to be one of United's best goalkeepers ever, could only manage to deflect the shot. There were a number of football legends and people that the Bolton Wanderers faithful hold dear on hand to pay their respects to the legendary Nat Lofthouse. (Subs) Franz Pelikan, Stotz, Koller, Dekkerif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'historyofsoccer_info-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_11',185,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyofsoccer_info-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Gilbert Merrick, Alf Ramsey, William Eckersley, William Wright, Jack Froggatt, James Dickinson, Tom Finney, John Sewell, Nat Lofthouse, Edward Baily, William Elliott. Elliotts pass to Baily was impressive. 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. Lofthouse had made his Wanderers debut back in 1941 aged 15, scoring. The United lost emotion on the whole game at the end. There was nowhere left to. After Jackie Sewell restored the lead, Nat Lofthouse headed against the crossbar. 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. BBC News - Nat Lofthouse: Life of football legend The evening of Saturday, 15 January 2011, Nat Lofthouse passed away at the Bolton nursing home. In the 83rd minute, Tom Finney tapped the ball to Lofthouse on the halfway line. Eulogies were offered by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside and Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor, a boyhood Bolton fan and former Wanderers player. Its capital cities, Berlin and Vienna, were also divided into four by the four Allied Powers (Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and France). 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. Nat Lofthouse was Bolton in a way that the modern day equivalent of Kevin Davies, however loved by the fans, could never be. The tour began with a 1-1 draw between England and Italy in Florence. Football's Pioneers: Nat Lofthouse - Leicester City F.C. It was important not to strike the ball too soon. As a result, Nat Lofthouse was nicknamed the Lion of Vienna. We are a registered charity; This was a one-off and Bolton came from behind to get the better of Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge with goals from Hunt and Lol Hamlett. Read |Dixie Dean: footballs first great number nine. On this occasion, he relieved himself of day-to-day duties at the club but remained on board as an ambassador for the Trotters, attending matches and club events for years to come. Andy is a UK-born, football fanatic who follows the trials and tribulations of Aston Villa and his local non-league side, Stafford Rangers. [12], Lofthouse died on 15 January 2011, aged 85, in a nursing home in Bolton. 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. On 25 May 1952, Lofthouse earned the title 'Lion of Vienna' after scoring his second goal in England's 3-2 victory over Austria. From an early age, however, it was clear that as long as he or one of the neighbouring children had something approximating a ball, he felt natural and content. The performance certainly cemented Nats place as Englands number nine and six goals for the Football League against the Irish League further underlined it. Lofthouse is rightly remembered as the archetypal one-club man, but to call him that is to do him a disservice. For the Daily Mail, Roy Peskett described the events clearly. Six years later, he was promoted to the head coach position, and the following year, he took to managing the club. However, the lead was short-lived. Bolton were 3-1 up with just 22 minutes to go but their opponents, inspired by Stanley Matthews, stormed back to win 4-3. The match in question was a 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Nat scored 2 of Bolton's goals. In that game, Blackpool came back from 3-1 down to win 4-3, largely thanks to the heroics of Matthews, although he was no doubt helped by the fact that the Wanderers were effectively down to 10 men throughout much of the second half as Eric Bell was playing through a torn hamstring. He perhaps justified a claim to an earlier call-up by scoring both goals in a 22 draw against Yugoslavia at Highbury on his debut. He started his countrys next 12 internationals scoring 13 times. In 1943, Nat Lofthouse was called upon to serve as a Bevin Boy at the Mosley Common coal mine. 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. Posts 7,107 Likes 2 Location swindon wilts. Nat charged forward with the ball, in typical Lofthouse fashion receiving an elbow in the face and a tackle from behind. It was there that the conversation that would change his life forever took place. My legs became stronger and when I played football I felt I was shooting with greater power.". In 1978, he became the club's executive manager. With him passed away a piece of Bolton Wanderers Football Club that will never return. For Nat, the expectations were even greater. Two goals in a 5-1 win gave a taste of what was the come. Why was Nat Lofthouse called the Lion of Vienna? Before halftime, the English defense opened up, allowing Dienst to fire past Merrick and level the scores.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'historyofsoccer_info-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_13',167,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyofsoccer_info-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); As the game progressed, it became more fraught. 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.. The 1958-59 campaign provided a final high point in Lofthouses international career. The key to his appeal, beyond his fantastic abilities on the pitch, was his humility. Three months earlier, United had been involved in the Munich air disaster. Nat Lofthouse scored a brace in Boltons 2-0 win. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. We may also very occasionally send you information about the museum via Facebook. 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. Only two players from Manchester United's side that lost to Aston Villa in the previous year's final took the field on May 3, 1958, Bill Foulkes and Bobby Charlton, and a further two were survivors of the disaster. He netted in every round of the FA Cup in 1953, including the final, only to be thwarted by the wizardry of Stanley Matthews and a hat-trick from Stan Mortensen in one of the most famous finals of all time. Having played his first organised game as an emergency goalkeeper for his older brothers school team, conceding seven times and upsetting his Mum by playing in a new pair of shoes (he would later redeem himself by cleaning them as good as new), he quickly moved into attack his more natural position, due to his size, and established himself as the star centre forward for Castle Hill school. 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. The number 9 shirt is traditionally for the club's top goal scorer, a shirt that has been cursed at Bolton for years. Nat Lofthouse - Bolton Wanderers 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. It was impossible for Bolton fans to feel this way for long however, he was the club's top scorer that first season after the war, with 21 goals in all competitions. Nathaniel Nat Lofthouse, OBE (27 August 1925 15 January 2011) was an English professional footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers for his whole career. The crowd in the stands cheered Lofthouse on.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'historyofsoccer_info-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_14',187,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyofsoccer_info-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); As Lofthouse recalls, I heard the hounds running after me. Musil began running but stopped before he reached me. 102 Years of Burnden Park: Part Two - Lion Of Vienna Suite The poor performance of England against Italy almost certainly played a role in the games outcome against Austria. 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. The Mayor of Bolton, Alderman Entwhistle who was also a director of the club approached the youngster and asked him to sign and, along with the manager they managed to stop the local lad from leaving town although as he had already been a regular spectator at Burnden Park. Nats prolific strike rate in the war leagues left Wanderers in little doubt as to his abilities, but the cessation of the conflict and resumption of the football league ushered in a tough period of acclimatisation for club and player. The paradigm that would come to define a golden era in the history of one of Englands oldest clubs was now set in stone. Even his nickname, the Lion of Vienna, is something you wouldn't dream of bestowing upon the modern player. 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. On 1 January 1994, he was appointed an OBE and on 18 January 1997, Bolton decided to name their East Stand at their new Reebok Stadium after him. Although he was too young for military service Nat did his bit for the war effort, being one of three members of the 35-strong Bolton playing staff to work as a Bevin Boy and coal miner (the other 32 all joined the armed forces mostly signing up for the 53rd Bolton Field Regiment almost immediately after war broke out signed). Football hero: Nat Lofthouse - Manchester Evening News After gaining eight corners to Englands none, the Austrians dominated for most of the game. By Paul Ride. By Henry Winter 16 January 2011 8:10pm Lofthouse received a 10 signing-on fee and put pen to paper for Bolton on 4 September 1939 the day after Britain had declared war on Germany causing the abandonment of the Football League season. HE was nicknamed the Lion of Vienna. He made the best out of every situation and was often the first to say that he was happy to be earning a living by playing the game that he loved so much. In the following days Weekly Dispatch, John Robertson wrote; Lofthouses first goal left me open-mouthed. He earned the nickname by leading England to victory over Austria in Vienna on 25 May 1952. The club remained close to him after that, and he served as its general manager, scout, and president as of October 1986. Austria and England played a classic international match in Vienna, combining physical, influential English players with a technically proficient Austrian team to display steel and brute strength when needed. I hit it when he was right on top of me. Honours:1 FA Cup In the 11th minute, Melchior hit Eckersley with a shot that struck his arm. His goals-per-game ratio was among the highest among all England players between 1950 and 1958, during which he won 33 caps for England. We will normally only contact you via e-newsletter. In the Daily Herald, Clifford Webb wrote; Every man-jack did a heros job, but the player who provided the really tremendous thrill for the frantically cheering English colony was Nat Lofthouse. Additionally, the development of the Cold War affected the trip to Austria. If he fails again to accept changes from the clean breakaways against Italy, England will be doomed. Lofthouse was well aware of his uncertain status, saying later, I knew I played poorly in Florence [but] I wasnt prepared for the reception I received in the press.. As much as he was a one-club man, Bolton Wanderers will forever remain a one-man club. The funeral was held 11 days later with 500 invited guests and members of the public inside Bolton Parish Church. As far as the future was concerned, these results were not isolated, and these signs were already in evidence. 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.

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