Nat Lofthouse

Nathaniel Lofthouse was an English player born in 1925. Lofthouse had an amazing goal-scoring record for both England and Bolton Wanderers, his one and only club. After turning professional during the war he went on to establish a club record of 285 goals in 503 appearances for Bolton. During the 1952-53 season he became one of only 12 players to score in every round of The FA Cup. Bolton finished runners up that year when Stanley Matthews inspired Blackpool to a 4-3 win at Wembley.

Lofthouse lifted the trophy just five years later, scoring both goals in the 2-0 win over Manchester United including a now infamous winner when he barged the United goalkeeper Harry Gregg, with the ball, into the net and there were many who believed the goal should have been disallowed.

His International career got off to flying start, scoring twice on his England debut in November 1950 a 2-2 draw against Yugoslavia at Highbury. Notably he once scored six times for the Football League in a 7-1 win over the Irish League in a representative match. His finest hour in an England shirt came in May 1952 in the Prater Stadium where Lofthouse earned his nickname “The Lion of Vienna” by scoring twice in England’s 3-2 victory over Austria. Back from national team duty, he then scored six goals in a game between the English Football League and the Irish League on September 24, 1952.

On November 26 of the same year, Lofthouse made his final England appearance, against Wales at the age of 33, and he officially retired from the game in January 1960 because of an ankle injury, although his final league game wasn't until December 17 of that year, when he suffered a knee injury against Birmingham.

Nat Lofthouse has been the recipient of various honors since retiring from the game such as Freeman of Bolton in 1989; he received an OBE in 1994, and on 1997 Bolton decided to name their East Stand after him.