Lofty - RIP

[Lofthouse Lower]

I'll give you an example of my personal experiences of the man.

Around about 1970 we had one of the worst teams that I had ever seen. Nat had stepped in as manager. There was an away game at Carlisle United and me and my mates from up Breightmet were on one of the three Hargreaves Coaches that staggered up the M6 to Carlisle's Brunton Park. I would have been around fifteen at the time. We got stuffed and as we were leaving Carlisle our coach broke down on the big roundabout just before the start of the M6. Our driver faffed around for half an hour and then announced that the coach wasn't going anywhere. A replacement coach was being sent up from Bolton and we should not expect it for at least two hours. So we were all stood next to the coach awaiting developments.

At that moment the Wanderers team coach hove majestically into view. We all waved and the players waved back (made our day as bad as they were!) Then a strange thing happened. The coach went all the way around the roundabout and came back and stopped next to us. Nat came down from the coach and asked what was happening. He then insisted that we all got on the team coach back to Bolton. We couldn't believe his gratitude. Fortunately our coach was only half full and the team coach was a monster. He came down the coach and spoke to all of us - to put us at ease in the presence of our heroes (bear in mind we were just snotty Breightmet kids!) The team had arranged to have a meal at a posh hotel on the way back - could have been the Tickled Trout, but I may be mistaken. When the coach arrived at the hotel Nat nipped into the hotel and then returned. He stood up at the front of the bus and addressed us. I'll never forget his words. "Listen lads. We are having dinner here and the hotel have kindly agreed to let you in. We'll only be an hour and I have organised for you to all have a sandwich and a soft drink in the bar. Remember, you are representatives of Bolton Wanderers Football Club. I know you won't let me down." We didn't. After we got back to Bolton my dad wrote to Nat at the club to thank him for what he did. Nat replied to my dad and in his letter he said "It's the least I could have done for fellow Boltoners."

That was the measure of the man. We'll never see another like him.

That sent a shiver up my spine, Zulu. Tremendous

[Zulus Thousand of em]

I'll give you an example of my personal experiences of the man.

Around about 1970 we had one of the worst teams that I had ever seen. Nat had stepped in as manager. There was an away game at Carlisle United and me and my mates from up Breightmet were on one of the three Hargreaves Coaches that staggered up the M6 to Carlisle's Brunton Park. I would have been around fifteen at the time. We got stuffed and as we were leaving Carlisle our coach broke down on the big roundabout just before the start of the M6. Our driver faffed around for half an hour and then announced that the coach wasn't going anywhere. A replacement coach was being sent up from Bolton and we should not expect it for at least two hours. So we were all stood next to the coach awaiting developments.

At that moment the Wanderers team coach hove majestically into view. We all waved and the players waved back (made our day as bad as they were!) Then a strange thing happened. The coach went all the way around the roundabout and came back and stopped next to us. Nat came down from the coach and asked what was happening. He then insisted that we all got on the team coach back to Bolton. We couldn't believe his gratitude. Fortunately our coach was only half full and the team coach was a monster. He came down the coach and spoke to all of us - to put us at ease in the presence of our heroes (bear in mind we were just snotty Breightmet kids!) The team had arranged to have a meal at a posh hotel on the way back - could have been the Tickled Trout, but I may be mistaken. When the coach arrived at the hotel Nat nipped into the hotel and then returned. He stood up at the front of the bus and addressed us. I'll never forget his words. "Listen lads. We are having dinner here and the hotel have kindly agreed to let you in. We'll only be an hour and I have organised for you to all have a sandwich and a soft drink in the bar. Remember, you are representatives of Bolton Wanderers Football Club. I know you won't let me down." We didn't. After we got back to Bolton my dad wrote to Nat at the club to thank him for what he did. Nat replied to my dad and in his letter he said "It's the least I could have done for fellow Boltoners."

That was the measure of the man. We'll never see another like him.

That sent a shiver up my spine, Zulu. Tremendous

I was in tears typing it. Silly old bugger that I am!

[seanworth]

Zulu : Cheers for that. Seriously.

[Lofthouse Lower]

I always recall a story my uncle told me:

When at Burnden, the normid shop caught fire once - and my uncle was there (not sure whether there was a game on or something), and there was a great commotion outside as people came to look.

Apparently Nat stuck his head out of the window of the ground and shouted 'what's going on cock' at my uncle, who replied 'normid's on fire' - Nat then looked and saw the smoke and said 'by eck, so it is', and put his head back inside

[David Lee's Hair]

Nice little tribute to him here...

http://www.natlofthouse.co.uk/home/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BWFC_Wyles]

My Grandpa was a good friend of Nat's and he used to preach to me all the time about how we could do with Nat in the side, pretty much for 22 years before he passed away 3 years ago. So, from the day I started going to the whites at age 5 until the age of 27, I had this praise for Nat constantly. I wrote in the book of condolences yesterday that for someone to receive such praise shows just how much he was thought of.
Sleep well Nat, the word "legend" was made for you.

[bobo the clown]

I only ever spoke with him once, while playing with Bolton Boys. He was watching from the touchline and, after the match as we left the pitch, he pulled myself & the biggish centre forward to one side and said some nice things but gave one piece of coaching advice ; - "when you have a shooting opportunity sometimes it's useful to delay the shot a fraction of a second ... or to hit it a little less hard than you can. The keeper is expecting the quicker or harder shot and he'll dive too early".

He rubbed my hair & lighly slapped the back of the other guys head & broke away to speak with another player.

That's it, my sole 'live' experience of him. But I can claim to have been coached by Nat Lofthouse I suppose.

In every recollection here and elsewhere he just seems to have been a very nice, honest, dedicated man. Anyone of us who live our lives and can have that as our legacy we will have done well.

Zulu's story above actually had me with wet eyes. It's been a while since you made me cry Zulu.

[hisroyalgingerness]

All these are brilliant, though I reckon I might have to man-up before I go outside and dab these eyes!

Watching the FA Cup highlights for the first time on that BBC coverage and realising what a great achievement that was, how it was won for the town of Bolton and the thought of the Town Hall Square full of our fans trying to get a glimpse of the trophy is just terrific. The memories aren't mine, but still immensely proud.

[$huttgun]

That sent a shiver up my spine, Zulu. Tremendous [/quote]

I was in tears typing it. Silly old bugger that I am![/quote]

belting story that

[Raven]

Another spine shivering here too, nice story Zulu and with the others shows the man for what he was, a legend and a real one at that.

[BWFC_Wyles]

I'll give you an example of my personal experiences of the man.

Around about 1970 we had one of the worst teams that I had ever seen. Nat had stepped in as manager. There was an away game at Carlisle United and me and my mates from up Breightmet were on one of the three Hargreaves Coaches that staggered up the M6 to Carlisle's Brunton Park. I would have been around fifteen at the time. We got stuffed and as we were leaving Carlisle our coach broke down on the big roundabout just before the start of the M6. Our driver faffed around for half an hour and then announced that the coach wasn't going anywhere. A replacement coach was being sent up from Bolton and we should not expect it for at least two hours. So we were all stood next to the coach awaiting developments.

At that moment the Wanderers team coach hove majestically into view. We all waved and the players waved back (made our day as bad as they were!) Then a strange thing happened. The coach went all the way around the roundabout and came back and stopped next to us. Nat came down from the coach and asked what was happening. He then insisted that we all got on the team coach back to Bolton. We couldn't believe his gratitude. Fortunately our coach was only half full and the team coach was a monster. He came down the coach and spoke to all of us - to put us at ease in the presence of our heroes (bear in mind we were just snotty Breightmet kids!) The team had arranged to have a meal at a posh hotel on the way back - could have been the Tickled Trout, but I may be mistaken. When the coach arrived at the hotel Nat nipped into the hotel and then returned. He stood up at the front of the bus and addressed us. I'll never forget his words. "Listen lads. We are having dinner here and the hotel have kindly agreed to let you in. We'll only be an hour and I have organised for you to all have a sandwich and a soft drink in the bar. Remember, you are representatives of Bolton Wanderers Football Club. I know you won't let me down." We didn't. After we got back to Bolton my dad wrote to Nat at the club to thank him for what he did. Nat replied to my dad and in his letter he said "It's the least I could have done for fellow Boltoners."

That was the measure of the man. We'll never see another like him.

Wow Zulu, that was absolutely fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing. God bless Nat

[Raven]

Nice little tribute to him here...

http://www.natlofthouse.co.uk/home/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Quality

[perfan]

Very sad news. My Dad went to a game at Burnden in a box and Nat used to come in and present everybody with a gift. He asked for an autograph for me and thanked him and Nat said, "No. Thank YOU for asking me." What a man.

[keveh]

I'll give you an example of my personal experiences of the man.

That is brilliant! If I wasn't at work holding it back, there would be a tear in my eye.

[TANGODANCER]

Great stuff Zulu. That's really a personal experience to remember forever, and makes the loss of such a man such a sad event. They really must have broken the mould when Nat was born. Doubt if there'll ever be another like him.

[Norpig]

My memories of Nat Lofthouse are when I used to sell scratch cards in the 80s / 90s he was always in the office and was very grateful to anyone who did anything for the club.

In 1991 we drew Man Utd away in the FA Cup, we had not played them in years and the demand for tickets was very high. All promotions staff were told we would get tickets for the match as a thank you for all the hard work. However, when the club saw the demand this offer was withdrawn, we accepted the decision and queued up with everybody else. I failed to get a ticket and vented my anger at the ticket staff when collecting my scatch cards the week after. I asked if there was any tickets going spare and I was willing to pay the office staff laughed at me. As you can imagine at this point I was very annoyed and yes upset as I was going to miss the biggest match we had had since Everton semi final in '77. Anyway as I was arguing the toss Nat Lofthouse came out of the back to see what all the commotion was as I had totally lost it by this time. The presence of the man totally calmed me down I apologised and explained why I was so upset he took me in the back and had a chat with me and explained the situation. He asked me to wait a minute went away and came back with a ticket for the match stating it was one of his personal allocation and hoped I enjoyed the match. He explained that the fans are the most important part of the club, I have always been grateful for him for that he also sent to me a signed photograph of hom lifting the FA Cup which must be worth a fortune but to me it is priceless.

Thanks for everything you did for Bolton Wanderers it because of you we are still here today, if it wan't for the Lifeline idea we would have gone bust

Thanks Nat RIP

[Lofthouse Lower]

On 1 January 1994, he received an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II and, on 18 January 1997, Bolton decided to name their East Stand at their newly built Reebok Stadium after him in recognition of his legendary status and commitment.

Be nice if they started calling it the Lofthouse Stand over the PR system for a change.

[Lofthouse Lower]

My memories of Nat Lofthouse are when I used to sell scratch cards in the 80s / 90s he was always in the office and was very grateful to anyone who did anything for the club.

In 1991 we drew Man Utd away in the FA Cup, we had not played them in years and the demand for tickets was very high. All promotions staff were told we would get tickets for the match as a thank you for all the hard work. However, when the club saw the demand this offer was withdrawn, we accepted the decision and queued up with everybody else. I failed to get a ticket and vented my anger at the ticket staff when collecting my scatch cards the week after. I asked if there was any tickets going spare and I was willing to pay the office staff laughed at me. As you can imagine at this point I was very annoyed and yes upset as I was going to miss the biggest match we had had since Everton semi final in '77. Anyway as I was arguing the toss Nat Lofthouse came out of the back to see what all the commotion was as I had totally lost it by this time. The presence of the man totally calmed me down I apologised and explained why I was so upset he took me in the back and had a chat with me and explained the situation. He asked me to wait a minute went away and came back with a ticket for the match stating it was one of his personal allocation and hoped I enjoyed the match. He explained that the fans are the most important part of the club, I have always been grateful for him for that he also sent to me a signed photograph of hom lifting the FA Cup which must be worth a fortune but to me it is priceless.

Thanks for everything you did for Bolton Wanderers it because of you we are still here today, if it wan't for the Lifeline idea we would have gone bust

Thanks Nat RIP

[seanworth]

Norpig: Great memory, thanks for sharing it.

[Wandering Willy]

On 1 January 1994, he received an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II and, on 18 January 1997, Bolton decided to name their East Stand at their newly built Reebok Stadium after him in recognition of his legendary status and commitment.

Be nice if they started calling it the Lofthouse Stand over the PR system for a change.

Agreed.