Lofty - RIP

[Worthy4England]

This is from ALL Manchester United supporters.

When I was a nipper in 1958, 6 years old in fact, the plane that was carrying my team back from Munich crashed and 8 of our players died. All my heroes were taken away in one night and I was devestated. Why the f*ck did this happen to the team I love, Manchester United?

We borrowed 10 players within a month and managed to play our games. We won the FA Cup 3rd round and did OK in the league. Our manager lay in hospital on deaths doorstep, Duncan Edwards finally died after 15 days but United carried on. We'll never die, we'll never die!!

We got to the 4th round of the cup, then the fifth round , quarter final, semis and amazingly, despite most of our team being missing we reached the FA Cup Final. How could we lose that game? We had crawled from the ashes of Munich and God only knows how, had reached the cup final.

Nat Lofthouse scored two goals on that day in May 1958 and Manchester United lost the final. It seemed impossible that they would, but Nat Lofthouse made sure they did.

I couldn't even bring myself to say his name for so many years. But as they say, time is a great healer and as the years passed I realised what a true professional and genious he really was.

He did what most people probably didn't want to do. He scored the goals to end United's run to the final.

I now look back with sadness at that final but with joy that a true gent such as Nat Lofthouse scored those goals to bring United back down to reality. We had no right to win anything because of a plane crash.

Nat Lofthouse proved to the world that day in 1958 what a true professional he was. His job was to score goals and win matches for his club and he did that without affection or distraction from anywhere.

I have held Nat highly in my estimations for many a year now and have watched so many of his games that I have actually become a big fan of his.

He will be sorely missed by many fans, not just from Bolton but from Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham, London..........the list is endless.

Farewell Nat, the life might have ended, now let the memories begin. R.I.P.

Thank you.

[DJBlu]

I remember the night of the "Sack the board" chants, when Per Frandsen was sold to Blackburn.
Nat Lofthouse came to the door and had a word, everyone listened. It was like having a bollocking off your dad.

Rest In Peace, Legend.

[Zulus Thousand of em]

A giant among men.

I cannot find the words...

RIP

[Raven]

RIP a true legend in the game.

Condolences to family and all that knew him.

[Mitch]

I never saw the great man play but one of my enduring memories of him is at the play off final against Preston. The look, the emotion on his face when he realised his club was back in the big time. The club meant everything to him and he will be sadly missed. RIP Sir Nat

[seanworth]

Very sad indeed. May you RIP and condolences to the family. You brought more happiness to people than most could ever dream of.

[RobbieSavagesLeg]

R.I.P.

[KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab]

Just seen the BBC News and the Sky Sports News obituaries.

BBC's is nice - balances the contribution he made to club and country equally. Sky Sports News mention his contribution to the club after hangin up his boots.

The club will be setting aside the area in front of the main doors for tributes. I'm going to call my Dad and brother to see if they're planning on paying respects.

[Peter Thompson]

RIP Sir Nat....absolute legend

[sidewaysmove]

RIP Sir Nat

[Gary the Enfield]

This great man retired from playing before I was born and I only met him once.

I can't think of any other player who gave so much to one club. Not just in terms of his (albeit impressive) scoring record and all round attitude, but in his willingness to do ANY job the club asked of him.

He was a rare man. And I hope he is now enjoying the peace he has so richly earned.

Proud to be a Trotter.

[clapton is god]

Woke up at 2.30am and put R5 on which was when I heard this news. Not slept since.

Never saw him play, began supporting the whites in the early 60's but he'd hung his boots up a year or two earlier.

Met him several times though and always found him a wonderful man, always willing to talk, always with a smile on his face.

My thoughts are with Viv, his daughter, who I knew very well having worked with her for years.

RIP Nat, we knew it was coming but I'm still devastated.

[officer_dibble]

Justwoke up to this news, gutted.

Met him once, to young to see him play.

RIP Nat, and thank you.

[malcd1]

I think LEGEND is banded about far too often these days, sometimes for a player who has had one good season.

That cannot be said for Nat Lofthouse OBE. A true legend and true gentleman.

RIP Nat.

[spraggy]

RIP Nat - a great man

[rauschaxleman]

RIP Nat Son of Bolton

[DJBlu]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9363192.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sir Bobby Charlton's tribute.

[DJBlu]

I never saw the great man play but one of my enduring memories of him is at the play off final against Preston. The look, the emotion on his face when he realised his club was back in the big time. The club meant everything to him and he will be sadly missed. RIP Sir Nat

[FaninOz]

My memories of Nat go back to the early 50's and he was everyone's idol in those days if you supported Bolton. I watched him in so many games and score so many goals that it would be just to difficult to pick the best, but the two in the 1958 Cup final would have to be up with the best because of whne they were scored and who we were playing.

Magnificent player with a heart as big as a lions and such a kind and gentle man as well as being a real Gentleman. I never met him socially but my wife did and has always had a kind word to say about him. I'm so sad but it's inevitable and will happen to us all in time, RIP in Nat and condolences to all his surviving family.

What a pity that Knighthood eluded him, he deserved it.

Now, where are Bolton going to put that statue of him????

[Wardrobe]

Such a sad day. RIP Nat you were a true Gent and will be so missed.

Your name will never be forgotten