Rembrandt Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Sorry for the length of this piece but the great man deserves every tribute. I was taken to my first match at Burnden Park in December 1949 as a 5 year old. Sadly the passage of time has limited my memories of seeing Nat play, but an extract from Percy M. Young?s ?Bolton Wanderers? (1961) has always stuck in my memory ? even though I was actually at that game too :- ?Those who have attended Burnden Park have seen English football, sometimes at its best, but always with the native characteristics prominent. For the album of respected memories I would retain the match between the Wanderers and Manchester City, played ? appropriately enough ? on November 5th 1960. Under scowling skies, with ancient Pacifics passing threateningly over the heads of the crowd on the railway embankment, with crackers and catherine wheels in occasional and spirited combustion, the two teams played a fierce scherzo over the mud. Skill there was in plenty ? if only in the way that twenty-two players contrived not merely to stand but also to move with speed and manipulate the ball; but skill engaged with vigour. The tackling was of a ferocity unknown in Barcelona, but regarded as axiomatic among the devotees at Burnden. It was, wrote W.R. Taylor in the Guardian, the sort of ?blood and thunder match that no-one dared leave early in case he missed the odd murder or sending off. ...... Bolton knows what it likes, however, and this is it. The purists may rage and talk about the lost arts of English football, but the fact remains that the gate was almost double the average for the season so far. There is a moral somewhere.? At inside-right for Bolton that day was Nat Lofthouse, in such a position for the first time in ten years ? and in the season following that which, officially, saw his retirement. Outside Lofthouse was a new boy, sixteen-year-old Francis Lee, playing in his first match. Lofthouse?s function was tutorial ? to see the boy through the rigours of a local Derby. The manner in which he conducted his function, now counselling, now encouraging, now putting the ball across for the outside-right to get the feel of it, was an inspiration : here was a player who cared for the game, for his club, and for the future. The attitude was symbolised by the final goal, which gave Bolton a welcome 3-1 win : Lee took a corner, and Lofthouse, rising high above both friend and foe, nodded the ball past Trautmann. That action took the years away, and joined others of equal claim in the annals of eternity. There is English football; there are English footballers; and Lofthouse is, perhaps, in our time the most English of them all.? At the end of that chapter in the book, Mr. Young reproduced a 13-verse folk-poem ?Lofthouse Saga? written by a Tonge Moor man around the time of Nat?s retirement from playing. It?s worth reading if you can find it, or I can reproduce it here if anyone is interested. From the epilogue of the book :- ?The passing of Lofthouse illuminates the point. He was an individual rather than an individualist, the last essential piece in an interlocking mechanism. Spectators paid their money, I suspect, not to see Lofthouse but to see Lofthouse as a part of Bolton Wanderers, or of England. Equally I suspect Lofthouse saw it this way too. He had a sense of mission that transcended any delight in personal virtuosity.? I could put it no better. I had a problem typing those last two sentences as Nat?s obituary appeared on the BBC lunchtime news. I make no apology for the tears in my eyes. Nat Lofthouse RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Lofthouse Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 RIP Nat, our greatest ever Wanderer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolton va va Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Sad,sad news of the loss of our town and football club's finest ambassador. With sympathy to the Lofthouse family, R.I.P Nat Lofthouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mounts Kipper Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Love to hear the 13 verse poem rembrandt, your not the only Bolton fan with a tear today. Thanks for posting the article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolly-olly Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Rest in Peace Nat. We love you. A true gentlman and the type of footballer we will never, ever see grace a football pitch again. Played for the love of the game and the love of his hometown club and the love of his country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweep Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 RIP Nat - Mr Bolton Wanderers Thoughts with his family today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underpants Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 (edited) Nat Lofthouse - I just wanted to play foolbalI. I could run a bit, shoot a bit and head a bit. This grown man shed a wee tear this morning. He was born to be a Wanderer. 100% Boton Wanderers & England. BBC The players who built British football Edited January 16, 2011 by Underpants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DARWENWHITE Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 legend in every possible way remember meeting him at the club open day in 1984 a sad loss for bolton RIP 'Lion of Vienna' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arnold Jackson Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 R.I.P Nat A brilliant footballer, a fantastic Wanderer and a lovely man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorpey Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Sad, sad news. Many thanks for the smiles you put on many faces every day for many years. Your memory will live on in the hearts of Boltonians and beyond for ever. RIP Nat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent_white Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 In a strange way, Nat'a always felt like one of the family. The stories my grandparents used to tell and the esteem in which everybody held him. It's a very sad day today. He was my Grandad's favourite player and my Grandma always has a twinkle in her eye when she talks about him. If I'm lucky enough to have Grandkids one day, I'll tell them the story of the Lion of Vienna! Echoing the thoughts of others on here, I think we should have a statue of Nat. If the club can't afford it at the moment, then as fans we should be allowed to pay for it ourselves. I can't think of many people who wouldn't put their hands in their pockets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seasoned Traveller Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 It's not often I show emotion, but reading these has brought it out!! RIP Mr Lofthouse. A true Bolton Legend. God Bless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Churchill Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 As my t-shirt states 'Working Class Hero'!R.I.P Nat Lofthouse,Gone but never Forgotten! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Nt Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 RIP Nat Lofthouse OBE Never had the pleasure of seeing him play but will forever be a Wanderers great. Deepest sympathies to his family & friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 My first football hero. Thanks for the memories. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medwaywhite Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 RIP Nat had the pleasure to meet the great man a few times, always found time for a chat. a very humble man who will be missed, they dont make them like nat anymore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Daley Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 RIP to a wanderers legend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whites man Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Every Boltonian is lessened by his passing, RIP Nat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaza_zaza Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 I had the chance to meet him once, just before the opening of the Reebok and he was signing artist impressions of the new stadium. He shook my hand and said thanks for coming. I was so surprised by his humility and said I'm just so happy to be here and thanks for all you've done for the club. RIP Nat Lofthouse OBE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Biff Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Thank you Nat for the memories and pleasure you gave me watching Bolton as a boy. I count myself lucky to have seen you play. You will be greatly missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1969 Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 rip nat true legend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBO Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 It's always very sad to say goodbye to footballing giants, but it hurts so much more when he's one of your own. Goodnight god bless Lofty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Ring Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 A gentleman and a true legend Thanks for everything you did for our club Rest in Peace Nat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkonion Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 RIP Nat, a truly great ambassador for the club and town.My condolences to his family and friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barnstoneworth White Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 A very sad day. Sir Nat, Bolton and England legend. Never to see your like again. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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