The only identity was Nat Lofthouse. All Rights Reserved. Bolton born and bred, Lofthouse was signed by Bolton Wanderers as a 14 year old apprentice in 1939. please support us. Football hero: Nat Lofthouse - Manchester Evening News On 24 January 2011 in Bolton Wanderers first home game since his death against Chelsea, a pre-match period of a minute's silence, thunderous applause, black-and-white footage of Lofthouse in action and the laying of floral tributes by Kevin Davies and John Terry took place before the start of the match. Following his discovery, Nat Lofthouse was signed by then-Bolton manager Charles Foweraker, who had, at that point, been manager of the club for 25 years (and would manage for a further five years). Lofthouse was buried on 26 January 2011 as thousands turned out to say goodbye at Bolton Parish Church. Between 1950 and 1958, he played 33 times for the England national football team. When they won a late corner, they flooded forward, leaving Lofthouse alone with a single marker on the halfway line. Yet, Lofthouse loved being on the field and was going to take every opportunity he had. As a result of the United States defeat in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, the national team lost its confidence when playing outside their comfort zone of the Home International Championships. Thousands of people gather for the funeral of former Bolton Wanderers and England football legend Nat Lofthouse. Lofthouse returned to the National line-up for the October 1951 home international draw with Wales and then got both goals in the 2-0 win over Ireland in November followed by another in a 2-2 draw with Austria where he headed home an Alf Ramsey free kick after 76 minutes to level the scores. To prove it, they battered England with arms, legs and heads. Back from national team duty, he then scored six goals in a game for the Football League against the Irish League on 24 September 1952. They did not have a particularly tough path to Wembley facing mostly Division 2 and 3 sides, although they did knockout Division 1 champions of that season Wolverhampton in the quarter finals. Nat Lofthouse: Farewell to the Lion of Vienna | The Bolton News Nonetheless Lawtons legend was cemented locally and Nat became a huge fan, often travelling to Goodison Park to watch him play for Everton. It was there that the conversation that would change his life forever took place. That's the two words that go together and the thing about Nat was, as well, that you don't need to put his surname there, do you? The great Nat Lofthouse was born to humble beginnings on the 27th of August, 1925 to Richard and Sarah Lofthouse. Who Was Known as the "Lion of Vienna"? - Sportsmanist Entwistle, like Lofthouse, was an avid Wanderers fan and was named to the club's board in 1937. It was important not to strike the ball too soon. There may have been no better example of this than in 1954 when Serie A side Fiorentina put in a lucrative offer for Lofthouse (one that would have allowed him to live very comfortably after retirement) but the club turned it down. However, partially due to this, Nat Lofthouse did not always experience the utter adoration of the fans. [18], list of English football's top division all time goalscorers, "Nathaniel Lofthouse - Goals in International Matches", "Bolton Wanderers and England legend Nat Lofthouse dies aged 85", "This is Your Life (1969 - 1993) @ EOFFTV", "11 football greats who have suffered with dementia", "Bolton Wanderers 0 Chelsea 4: match report", "Mourners hail Nat Lofthouse as 'credit to Bolton', "1953 - The Matthews. This was touched on to Lofthouse on the halfway line by Finney. Lofthouse opened the scoring but Austria came back, and with the game deadlocked at 2-2, began to exert significant pressure. Although he failed to score in the Cup Winners Cup match there is no doubt that, with 13 goals, he was the star of the show. In 1968, he spent a brief time as caretaker manager of the club and took over the job full-time on 18 December. He holds this record to this day. 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). (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. The youngest of four sons, Nathaniel Lofthouse was born in Bolton on 27 August 1925. In the next two seasons he continued scoring regularly with the 1955-56 campaign particularly notable. As a result, Nat Lofthouse was nicknamed the Lion of Vienna. 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. It happened a lot in our day as it were, of course. Six of their colleagues had died in the crash, including United's only goal scorer from that final, Tommy Taylor. It was then more than five years until he made his league debut for the club, but he eventually played against Chelsea on 31 August 1946, when he scored twice in a 43 defeat. For 47 years after the program wound up, Bevin Boys were not recognized as full contributors to the war effort (despite being conscripted). The number 9 shirt is traditionally for the club's top goal scorer, a shirt that has been cursed at Bolton for years. All in all, he tallied up 255 goals in 452 league games, and 30 goals in 51 cup matches. 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. Lofthouse earned full international recognition when he was called up to play for his country against Yugoslavia at Highbury in November 1950. The Lion of Vienna - Lion Of Vienna Suite Eulogies were offered by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside and Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor, a boyhood Bolton fan and former Wanderers player. Despite the tense situation in Austria and Germany, British troops crossed into the Soviet sector for the match in May 1952, which took place in the Soviet sector of Vienna.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'historyofsoccer_info-medrectangle-3','ezslot_6',181,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyofsoccer_info-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'historyofsoccer_info-medrectangle-3','ezslot_7',181,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyofsoccer_info-medrectangle-3-0_1');.medrectangle-3-multi-181{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}, The historian Percy Young briefly described the situation regarding the two matches. Be in no doubt, the greatest number 9 and Bolton's finest son is of course Sir Nat Lofthouse. Nat Lofthouse Hall of Fame Profile - National Football Museum These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Bolton won the game 20 with Lofthouse scoring both goals, the second of which was highly controversial and remains a talking point to this day. A single man did not give up. United played well in the first half, but their attacks were continually stopped by the Bolton defense "like waves breaking against a rock," as one commentator noted. In the second half, the Wanderers looked the better team, as the thrown-together nature of Manchester United began to show. In the first match of that campaign they travelled to London to play Chelsea matching him up against hero Tommy Lawton. The evening of Saturday, 15 January 2011, Nat Lofthouse passed away at the Bolton nursing home. Nat was discovered by James Entwistle, the Mayor of Bolton at the time. 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. Nat Lofthouse - Wikipedia 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. By 1951 it had begun to recover from the wars ravages. With the extensive scouting networks and multi-tiered academies of nowadays simply not existing in the 1930s, Lofthouse was staring into the footballing abyss as he left school at 14. 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 players were taken off the pitch but, amazingly returned half an hour later to play out a goalless draw with bodies laid out along the touchline covered by coats. Lofthouses story wasnt as black and white as many modern accounts would have readers believe. There were England Soccer players dotted among them, their red shirts feeling like poppies in a field of corn as they were carried high in triumph to their dressing-room on the shoulders of the Dorsets, the Warwicks, the Signalmen, and the Gunners. [9], Already a Bolton Wanderers player having joined them in 1939 Lofthouse was conscripted in 1943 and worked in Mosley Common colliery as a Bevin Boy. [11] They had two children, a son, Jeff, and a daughter, Vivien. As a result, Nat Lofthouse was nicknamed the Lion of Vienna. As a result, Nat Lofthouse became known as the Lion of Vienna by the Daily Express newspaper. Ridding had been prominent in Nat Lofthouse's successful rise and had led the Trotters to the 1953 and 1958 FA Cup finals, famously winning the second one. For the recognition of club and country, a statue stands outside Bolton's stadium. On the domestic front Lofthouse enjoyed an outstanding 1952-53 season. Had Lofthouse not been a Bolton Wanderers player, life would have been extremely difficult for him. The words so often used to describe how he acted in public fearless, brave, lionheart in the words of Stanley Matthews reflected a reputation as a player of almost biblical determination, but one who was privately beset by worry at various points throughout his career. Even when things were not in his favor, Lofthouse was not one to complain or pity himself. Nat was the youngest of four boys. In what was only his seventh cap, he was already well accustomed to the no-holds-barred criticism that came with being Englands centre forward. The Lion of Vienna With the war over, the legendary Nat Lofthouse was finally able to start his career officially. Merrick plucked a corner cross from the air, who threw a long, swerving ball down the middle of the field. Bolton Wanderers Beat Manchester United at Wembley: Bolton players chair their Captain and hero Nat Lofthouse with the cup, at the end of the match. 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. [3] There was a national wave of sympathy for United, who three months earlier had suffered grievously in the Munich air disaster. There have been many claims that Lofthouse and Tommy Lawton went to the same school but in fact Lawton went to nearby Folds Road. Posts 7,107 Likes 2 Location swindon wilts. In response to penalty appeals, the referee awarded a corner. In front of 65,500 fans at the Prater Stadium, including hordes of British soldiers, Lofthouse gave England the lead when he smacked home a half-volley from 12 yards after being set up by Jackie Sewell. He slid the ball past the keeper but was knocked cold in the challenge as he did. However, given his family's financial stance and the need to care for four boys, the young Lofthouse could not afford to pay for entry into Burnden Park to watch his beloved Whites. Thousands of England fans attended the game at the Praterstadion in Viennas Soviet Zone, as evidenced by the Path film of the game. Over the next few years, Lofthouse set about exhausting the superlatives available with his goalscoring. He won 33 caps for England between 1950 and 1958, scoring 30 goals, with one of the highest goals-per-game ratios of any England player. I wasn't cut out to be a manager.". These cookies do not store any personal information. As he regretted later, I never saw the ball enter the Austrian net for the goal of my life.. He was probably the last of the old fashioned centre forwards, leading the line with toughness, taking plenty of knocks and giving them out too. The stands were filled with British troops, who had remained stationed throughout Austria in the aftermath of the war. This win made for up defeat in the 1953 FA Cup Final, the same year he was selected as the Footballer of the Year by the FWA. Curse of the number nine - Lion Of Vienna Suite After a 2-0 away win at the Victoria Ground where Ray Westwood bagged both goals the second leg was played seven days later and tragedy struck. That's the thing more than anything else. Thousands more stood outside in the streets with speakers erected so that the public could hear the service. Lofthouse was one of the inaugural inductees to the National Football Museum Hall Of Fame in 2002, attending the event to collect his award alongside other greats of the game, including his friend and former England team-mate Sir Tom Finney. Around 200 fans stormed the pitch after the final whistle sounded, creating a fantastic scene. ], 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. Injured for the next match, in the quarter final game against Uruguay he equalized in the 16th minute, after receiving the ball in the 18-yard box.[which? Still more fans entered and the crush resulted in the death of 33 people. Please tick if you would like to receive information in this way. When he came to, he was the Lion of Vienna, an epithet that stuck for the rest of his life. For as much as Bolton Wanderers shaped him, his career and his life, he too left an indelible mark on the club, defining the teams most iconic era and playing a pivotal role in saving the club during its most ignominious age. Speaking at Nat's "This Is Your Life" show, Bolton Wanderers' commercial manager at the time, Alf Davies shared just how crucial Nat Lofthouse's presence at the club was: "In 1982, we hit on some hard times and in 1982, we had just six weeks to live before the bank called time on our activities. There was then a Cup Winners Cup played between the winners of the North and South tournaments. 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. Instead, Lofthouse honed his skills on the. Austria hit back to equalise, Sewell restored the advantage but the home team levelled for a second time. Lofthouse had thunderous, crashing shots, coupled with a burning desire to get in the right place to unleash them. He was declared English Footballer of the Year, an accolade he was given on the eve of the famed Stanley Matthews Final in the FA Cup. [14] In 4th position is Ian Rush on 233 goals, then David Herd on 223 goals. All Id ever wanted to do.. Throughout the opening 20 minutes, Austria dominated, but England responded. Read |Sir Stanley Matthews and the story of Englands humble wizard. In addition to their colorful rosettes, red, white, and blue rattles, and chants of England, they instilled a carnival atmosphere around the stadium, evoking the atmosphere associated with an FA Cup match. He is third in the Premier League (old Division 1) list behind Jimmy Greaves (357) and Alan Shearer (283). We will normally only contact you via e-newsletter. He was born with Bolton in his blood, and he played his football, lived his life in a way that reflected that. By Henry Winter 16 January 2011 8:10pm In the following Sundays game with Austria, England was widely considered as an underdog. The previous week, Nat Lofthouse was heavily criticized, but now hes the great hero, according to the headlines. ". By 1942, all males in the United Kingdom aged 18-51 (with a few exceptions) were eligible to be conscripted by the government into wartime service. Nat Lefthouse Biography, Career Info, Records & Achievements - Sportskeeda We were introduced and I stood there tongue-tied, Nat would later recall. His most memorable performance,. But he came back before the final whistle as Nat's valiant display earned him the nickname, 'Lion of Vienna'. He said of his career; For me Football is pleasure with pay. The Lion Of Vienna. That changed in the 1952-53 season. Nat Lofthouse: the Lion of Vienna and the gent of Bolton Why was Nat Lofthouse called Lion of Vienna? His last appearance for Bolton came on Nov. 17, 1960, a draw against Birmingham, after missing all of the 1959-60 season due to an ankle injury sustained in a pre-season tour of South Africa.
why was nat lofthouse called the lion of vienna
