England footballer Nat Lofthouse dies, aged 85

[Colonel Iredale]

FOOTBALL legend Nat Lofthouse OBE, Bolton Wanderers' most famous ever player, has died at the age of 85.

The 'Lion of Vienna' died peacefully in his sleep at his nursing home in Bolton on Saturday night.

Flags at the Reebok Stadium have been lowered as a mark of respect to the great man.

From Sunday morning, photographs of Nat will be placed at the flagpoles at the front of the stadium and a small area next to the pictures has been set aside by the club so that supporters residents can leave floral tributes.

Bolton Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside said: "On behalf of everyone at Bolton Wanderers Football Club, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Nat's family, who are very much in our thoughts at this time.

"Nat undoubtedly is a Bolton Wanderers legend. He was a one-club man and our football club meant as much to him as he did to us.

"We will miss him but we will celebrate his life, his legacy and great times that he brought to Bolton Wanderers."

Nat, who was voted the club's greatest ever player in a poll conducted in 2006, amassed over 450 appearances in the Bolton Wanderers shirt, scoring 255 goals between the years of 1946 and 1960.

On the international stage, he proudly represented England on 33 occasions, scoring 30 goals.

After hanging up his boots, he continued his association with the club by occupying a variety of different positions including chief coach, chief scout, caretaker manager and club president, in which he remained up until passing away at around 10pm on Saturday.

Bolton News: Nat Lofthouse dies aged 85

[arwebb]

One of English football's true greats. There was a minute's silence for him yesterday at our team's game (presume there was at all games) but it was unfortunately disrupted by a man's mobile phone going out playing the Benny Hill music. I advise our colleagues outside these islands to consult YouTube.