Nat Lofthouse Archive Interview

[TANGODANCER]

I'm nervous to ask, but does anyone know anything of his current state of health?

From what I understand from speaking to Mr Gartside a few months ago, physically he's fine for his age but unfortunately perhaps many years of heading the old leather case balls (like a cannonball when wet) seems to have taken its toll mentally. He now lives most ot the time out in I think Portugal with one of his daughters.

Front-lobal demetia is the term the wife uses. She worked in Bolton Hospital in the mentally challenged wards for a few years and says that quite a few footballers and boxers had been in there with it. Sad to hear and I hope he's in no pain.

[H. Pedersen]

Tried to listen to this again just now, but it doesn't seem to be working.

Just a thought: a lot of times we regard modern footballers as overpaid prima donnas. But to hear that a player as great - and not just in terms of ability but also significance to his team and his city - as Nat Lofthouse ended up cleaning toilets for BWFC after his career ended . . . I guess I'm just happy that will never happen to Jussi, Gardner, or Davies.

[clapton is god]

^ Still working here in Manchester. may be your location thats the problem.

[H. Pedersen]

^ Still working here in Manchester. may be your location thats the problem.

Cheers. Worked for me in Charlotte when I was over there to see the friendlies so I don't know why it would give me trouble on the West Coast, but who knows how or why the BBC works.

[Il Pirate]

Top interview with a top fella. I've always had time for Jimmy Armfield also, but I loved Harry Gregg's quote regarding the second goal in the '58 final: " I've given some knocks and taken a few. Some intentional and some unintentional, so I didn't complain...." Can't image any goalies today being so humble.

[Randy Watson]

Lookin back on the history of football, pisses me right off that i am too young to remeber anything other than the premiership with its welth. I just wish I could go back through the decades and watch at least one match from each. The raw passion the players had then was priceless and far outways there pots of gold they have now.

Nat and the other legends of old should be idolised and the club should keep there memory alive much more than they do.

I mean i bet there's loads of youngens who have no clue what lofty the lion represents and just think he is a big cuddley toy (who btw must realystruggle to get that bolton shirt over his head).

[Juewanderer]

I have recently read Nat's book ...Goals Galore, well worth a read. He also happens to share my Birthday ( not the same year, mind you


http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/BO ... thouse.htm

Nathaniel Lofthouse, the youngest of four sons, was born in Bolton on 27th August 1925. His father was the head horsekeeper for Bolton Corporation. A talented centre-forward, he was selected to play for Bolton Schools against Bury Schools. Bolton won 7-1 and Lofthouse scored all seven.

In 1939 Charles Foweraker, the manager of Bolton Wanderers, signed the 14 year-old Lofthouse as an amateur. On 22nd March 1941, George Hunt, the club's leading scorer for the last two seasons, was moved to inside-right and replaced at centre-forward by the 15 year-old Lofthouse. Bolton won the game 5-1 with Lofthouse scoring two of the goals.

In his autobiography, Goals Galore, Lofthouse argued that George Hunt was the most important influence on him during this period of his career: "I would have an hour or two off to receive coaching from George Hunt, and firmly believe that these private coaching sessions played a big part in my advancement. George Hunt, who was a very great centre-forward himself, possesses the rare ability to pass on to youngsters his own deep knowledge of the game. When George is explaining points, it is easy to see why he was such a magnificent footballer. Out on the pitch at Burnden Park I learnt more from George in an hour than I could from most people in a year."

[n035209]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/archive ... e1353.html

a few pictures of Nat lofthouse, when we won the 1958 cup final against the red scum,