Lofty - RIP

[Gary the Enfield]

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.

You could start it off by changing your name to Lofthouse Lower.

[General Mannerheim]

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.

You could start it off by changing your name to Lofthouse Lower.

Touché!

[TANGODANCER]

Granada news have just done a spot on Nat's demise and a tribute from OC. Probably be on again tonight.

[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.

You could start it off by changing your name to Lofthouse Lower.

Touche, turtle.

MODS, make it so

[Gary the Enfield]

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.

You could start it off by changing your name to Lofthouse Lower.

Touche, turtle.

MODS, make it so

Well done. Seriously.

[Lofthouse Lower]

B.E.N. tribute to Nat in pdf format

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/resources/files/13578/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TKIZ!]

Nat Lofthouse, BWFC legend.

We salute you

[PNE BUZ]

He once said of Sir Tom Finney "Finney was that good he used to cross the ball with the seam facing the goalie so it didnt hurt my head"


A legend,a gentleman and a travesty he wasnt knighted. R.I.P Sir Nat

[truewhite15]

Can we make this thread a sticky? He deserves to stay up there for as long as this site is around.

[Prufrock]

Absolute. Hero.

[bettyrasta]

Only met the great man once and sadly never saw him play...The time I 'met' him was on the car park at Burnden. I think I'd gone for match tickets with my then young son and there was no-one else around. Obviously I was thrilled and don't usually do this type of thing but rushed up with son to ask for his autograph (for the benefit of my son obviously ) . Only thing is I wasn't prepared for this and therefore had no pen and certainly no autograph book/paper (I was a grown man...how could I expect to). Anyway I fumbled and fumbled in pockets when as if he had all the time in the world Nat said "take your time son" whereupon I found an old ticket. He took the trouble to go inside for a pen and I left slightly embarrassed but happy.

[Bruce Rioja]

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.

I've just welled-up. No joke.

[Bruce Rioja]

Can we make this thread a sticky? He deserves to stay up there for as long as this site is around.

Absolutely. Guys?

[CrazyHorse]

Good idea. Stickeyed.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

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.

I've just welled-up. No joke.

Me too. Again. Cos I did so earlier, at work, editing his obituary. And then again, quietly, tonight, after taking to the seven-a-side pitch in my retro 50s top, touching the black armband, and thinking of a true hero.

Thanks, Nat. Thanks from all Bolton fans. You made us proud.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Oh and there's apparently a Dickie Dacvies interview with the great man replayed on Sky Sports 2m, Wed 9am.

[keveh]

Does anybody know the times at which you can leave a message in the memorial book?

I was going to nip down tonight after work.

[CAPSLOCK]

Four books of condolence have been opened. They can be signed at the Reebok Stadium, the Town Hall, Bolton Parish Church and at The Bolton News in Churchgate during office hours — 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm.

[keveh]

Thank you for helping my laziness.

[P.O.S.]

Thank you for helping my laziness.

I was told by someone at the club that the office at Reebok is manned 24/7 so you can sign it anytime