Nat Lofthouse

Nathaniel Lofthouse popularly known as Lofthouse Lofthouse was an English professional footballer, born on 27th August 1925 in Bolton, England. The centre-forward passed away on 15th January 2011 at the age of 85.

His exceptional physical power, aerial ability, thunderous shooting with both feet and speed made Lofthouse a fierce old-fashioned English centre-forward.

Background

Born in a poor family, Lofthouse started his playing as goalkeeper for his school, Castle Hill, and conceded seven goals in the first match. He swiftly became centre-forward and scored seven goals on his maiden appearance for Bolton Schools. As an amateur, Lofthouse penned a contract with Bolton Wanderers just next day after the commencement of World War II. Aged 15, Lofthouse netted twice in his league debut against Bury in March 1941. He had to work in coal mine in the morning and practised with the club in the afternoon. He turned into a professional player in 1942 with remuneration £1.10s a week

Debut

Lofthouse scored twice in his international debut against Yugoslavia in November 1950. Even after a highly successful debut, Lofthouse had to wait for another year to become England’s first choice centre-froward.

Rise to Glory

With the scoreline tied at 2-2 in a friendly against Austria termed as the "Championship of Europe", Lofthouse sneaked past the Austrian defenders from the halfway line and scored past the charging goalkeeper but collided with him. Lofthouse was battered on the field and left the field. But he came back before the final whistle as Nat’s valiant display earned him the nickname, ‘Lion of Vienna’.

Lofthouse was in sumptuous form in the 1953 FA Cup as he scored in every single game of the competition including netting a goal in the final. Although Bolton lost the final against Blackpool, the English international was named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.

In his only World Cup appearance, Lofthouse scored a goal in the quarter-final loss to Uruguay in 1954. In October 1958, Lofthouse equalled Tom Finney's record of the most international goals when he pumped the final goal against Russia

Low Points

In spite of being in top form, Lofthouse was surprisingly left out of the 1958 FIFA World Cup squad.

Retirement

At the age of 34, Lofthouse bid farewell to international football in January 1960 due to tenacious ankle injury. However his last league match was against Birmingham City in December 1960. Lofthouse incredibly netted 30 times in 33 appearances for the three lions. Post-retirement, he did not want to leave his club and was bestowed with the job of boot-cleaner and trainer. He became the manager of the club in 1968 but spent a gloomy two years. He also served as the caretaker manager in three spells before becoming the president of the club in 1986. In 1994, Lofthouse was made OBE.

Club Career

Lofthouse was a one club army as the talismanic centre-forward spent his career at Bolton. He netted 285 times in his 503 appearances for the club. In spite of playing the match with a pin in a shoulder, Lofthouse netted a brace in the final against Manchester United to lift the 1958 FA Cup.