Bolton Wanderers Reebok Stadium

An inspiration and a sporting legend
RIP Nat - Helen

Condolences to Nat Lofthouse's family and friends - he was a hero and will always be remembered. - Annik Taylor, Lancaster

I had the pleasure of meeting Nat Lofthouse ona couple of occasions and a nicer man you could not wish to meet. A true Bolton hero, you will never be forgotten. Do what you do best up there and don't forget to look down on a Saturday afternoon in winter! RIP Nat - Hannah

When I first became a Bolton Wanderers fan, I asked the Question "who is this Lofty Fella?"
I soon found out.....

The greatest player Bolton have ever had, an England great, the saviour of Bolton Wanderers, a real gentleman and a true and real Legend, in fact he was, is, and always will be, Mr Bolton Wanderers.

The Lion sleeps tonight

Rest In Peace Nat

Kath Jones -

A great player and a great human being - Brian Keighley Huddersfield

My Father Len, born within a year of Nat, unlike me has had the thrill of watching Bolton in two FA cup finals and throughout my life I have been constantly reminded of the brilliance of Lofty and his era of Bolton and England players. On behalf of myself and my Father who like many others his age may not get a chance with the cold weather to pay tribute to their lifelong hero, I would like to say "deepest sympathy for Nat's family and thank you for being our hero". Nat Lofthouse simply a Lion of a man and a legend of a footballer. - John Counsell (West Kirby)

Thank you Nat for being you a gentleman & a legend but most of all for being loyal to Bolton Wanderers FC, you'll never be forgot now rest in peace. - Neil Newsham

Such a sad family loss, the town and the world of football, Nat, your memory will live on for ever, a true gentleman and a Bolton Wanderers Legend who can never be relaced. R.I.P. - Ken Platt

A Tribute to Nat Lofthouse

His very first game for Wanderers in nineteen forty one,
A kid in his teens his career had just begun,
He scored a couple of goals on that special day,
The lad was full of promise and was surely here to stay,
Yes, the lad was full of promise and was surely here to stay.

When you talk of soccer legends
he is one of some renown,
He could swerve he could dribble and move the ball around,
His heading power exceptional always goal bound,
And his nick name was Lofty
a star had just been found,
Yes, his nick name was Lofty
A star had just been found.

At Burnden Park he was the king and long did he reign,
The fans came down in droves
to see his rise to fame,
The team jogged out the tunnel
In shirts crisp and white,
And the crowd started roaring
“Come on you Whites”
Yes, the crowd started roaring
“Come on you Whites”

He got picked for England the selectors got it right,
His international future looking very bright,
And all the Bolton Fans cheered way into the night,
He joined a great England team led by Billy Wright,
Yes, he joined a great England team led by Billy Wright.

He built a reputation in that England team,
The Lion of Vienna, the best that had been seen,
Those two goals in Austria were good you can’t deny,
And all the British tommies carried him shoulder high.
Yes, all the British tommies carried him shoulder high.

Bolton v United in nineteen fifty eight,
Cup final day was a very special date,
Lofty bundled Harry Gregg right into the net,
Then just stared at him, said “that’s the best one yet”,
Yes, Lofty just stared at him said “that’s the best one yet”.

Now Harry Gregg got rattled and pounded on the ground,
His anger was plain to see by everyone around,
Looking at the ref he said “whatever’s going on”?,
But Lofty just stared again said “now get off your bum”,
Yes, Lofty just stared again said “now get off your bum”.

Lots of commotion was now taking place,
All United players saying “that’s a damn disgrace”,
They protested wildly and made a great demand,
But the ref just shook his head and said “the goal will stand”
Yes, the ref just shook his head and said “the goal will stand”.

Returning home victorious the team rode round the town,
Showing off the F.A.Cup they were so very proud,
The fans turned out in thousands and cheered them all the way,
Cos Lofty had scored a brace on that Final day,
Yes, Lofty had scored a brace on that Final day.

We’ll remember your achievements Nat the records you have set,
And all those wonder goals you have put into the net,
You’re a man well respected that you’ve always been,
We thank you for the memories and all the goals we’ve seen,
Yes, we thank you for the memories and all the goals we’ve seen. - E.W Tomlinson (76-years-old and lifetime fan)

You may be gone, but your `Roar` will endure!!
The `Lion of Vienna` will always be remembered. - Scott Lythgoe

As a Bolton fan I am gutted to hear of the death of a true Bolton legend I've had the chance to meet nat twice what a true gent and legend you will be sadly missed nat - Lee Dixon bwfc

I never got the chance to watch nat as a player because he was way before my time. But from the footballing memories i have seen on television he was a Wanderers and England legend. He was also a legend for the town of Bolton. Don't think many modern days footballers wiill get or deserve the recgonition he is getting. Unfortunately he never got the knighthood he truly deserve i believe he should have. He will always be SIR NAT to me R.I.P. LION OF VIENNA - Andrew Whitehead

Our greatest ever player and a huge loss for the town.

Will be missed but always remembered - Chris

A True working class hero rip nat many thanks for the memories - ged gt lever

Gone but never forgotten. A true legend who makes me proud to be a Wanderer. RIP Sir Nat - Nolan Smith (Chorley now Bristol)

I have the honour of putting together an appreciation of Nat's life and times for FourFourTwo magazine's next issue. I have been overwhelmed already by the unanimity of all the comments about him on this - and every - forum and from all his ex-colleagues. A remarkable man, on and equally importantly, off the pitch. A lifetime's devoted service to a club and it's community. The lion has earned a hugely deserved sleep. RIP. - Steve Morgan

My Grand Parents and Father lived a stones throw from Burnden. Nat was a player they always talked about and naturally I followed the tradition.

I only saw Lofty play at the end of his career. I can still remember his last home game against Manchester City in 1960. Nat scored and sent a 7 year old home very happy.

Rest In Peace Nat. A true and Loyal Boltonian. God Bless. - Trevor James

I was unfortunate not to be able to see Nat Play but my dad told me everything about him. How he scored the Winner of the 1958 Fa Cup Final, how he became "The Lion Of Vienna", and how much of a gentleman you were.

He signed my baby picture, and gave a heart felt message with it, which is my most treasured possession.

Footballers are called Legends to much these days, but Nat was the definition of a Legend.

RIP Bolton's Favourite Son - Derek Thomas Irwin & Derek Irwin

I am a Villa and let me pass on my mark of respect for the great Nat Lofthouse.

He represents a time before money a time when players were proud to play for their club and he represented Bolton with immense pride.

We will never see someone like Nat again

RIP a true giant of the game - ian robathan

never a true gent as worn a whites football shirt and been so proud god bless sir nat r.i.p - paulbob63@hoymail. co.uk