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RIP Nat Lofthouse OBE

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View attachment 2753Nat Lofthouse – the ‘Lion of Vienna' – was the last great champion of a dying breed: the traditional English centre-forward – the talismanic figurehead given the job of leading the line, taking more than his share of knocks, and scoring most of the goals.
Over a period of eight years, the Bolton Wanderers forward scored 30 times in 33 internationals – and only Jimmy Greaves has been able to match that strike rate over a prolonged period.
Lofthouse was an old-style number nine, like Dixie Dean and Tommy Lawton before him. ‘A battering ram,' as he once described himself modestly. Tom Finney was far more generous, listing his attributes as ‘speed, fearlessness, a hard shot in either foot, good heading ability, and a robust frame to stand up to all the physical stuff'.
His nickname was bestowed on him for his performance in scoring the winning goal in England 's 3-2 win over Austria in Vienna in 1952 – a match billed as an unofficial championship of Europe .
Lofthouse was knocked unconscious briefly, but insisted on returning to the action despite a knee injury. ‘The courage Nat showed was typical of him,' Alf Ramsey said. ‘The way he insisted on coming back on lifted the heart of every Englishman in the stadium. It made us redouble our efforts to keep the Austrians out.'
His performance in the FA Cup Final of 1953 was another highlight: Lofthouse scored one goal, hit the post, harassed his opponents, and was almost knocked unconscious. At the end of the game, he walked over and shook the hands of the victorious Blackpool players.
Such sportsmanship, allied to his loyalty to Bolton , his only club, added to his public appeal. Voted Footballer of the Year in 1953, Lofthouse was elated when his conduct on the field was praised as highly as his scoring prowess.
Five years later, Bolton were back at Wembley for an FA Cup Final against Manchester United. All 11 Wanderers players were local lads, and each of them had cost the club only a £10 signing-on fee.
This time, Lofthouse scored twice, controversially bundling the ball into the net with a shoulder charge against Harry Gregg, the Manchester United goalkeeper, for one of his goals in a 2-0 victory.
Born and bred in Bolton , Lofthouse signed for Wanderers as a 14-year-old amateur in 1939, and he played his 503 rd and last game for them 21 years later, with 285 goals to his credit.
Although the start of his League career was delayed by the outbreak of the Second World War, the conflict that shaped him as a player. ‘It toughened me up, physically and mentally,' Lofthouse recalled. Too young for military service, he worked in a coal mine, pushing tubs of coal, building his strength and fitness.
Lofthouse played his final game – against Birmingham City – in December 1960 following a long lay-off with a cruciate ligament injury. Football was changing. As his career was coming to an end, so was the golden age of the English centre-forward.
His generation had played a simpler game tactically, with the number nine as the ‘pivot' of the attack. Len Shackleton put it this way: ‘Billy Wright won the ball and passed it to me. I gave it to Stan Matthews who ran down the wing and centred for Nat Lofthouse, who scored.'​
 
Sad day for football - a player from the days where footballers were working class men on working class wages - who lived the dream of playing for their local teams and were greatful of that chance ......

R.I.P.
 


daza_1973 said:
Sad day for football - a player from the days where footballers were working class men on working class wages - who lived the dream of playing for their local teams and were greatful of that chance ......

R.I.P.
Click to expand...

Spot on R.I.P
 
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