Nat Lofthouse, Lion of Vienna, 1925- 2011

17 January 2011 09:33
As a boy, he idolised Nat Lofthouse. Then, as an aspiring footballer, he was coached by him. Here STEVE CURRY pays personal tribute to one of this country's greatest centre forwards, a fearless figure from a magical period for English football who died on Saturday, aged 85. [LNB]Modern managers sometimes talk of their players having put in 'a good shift at the coal face'; Nat Lofthouse actually did. [LNB] Winning smile: Nat Lofthouse with the 1958 FA Cup he won for Bolton with two goals, the second of whichcame when he bundled Manchester United keeper Harry Gregg into the net[LNB]During the Second World War, Lofthouse's match days would begin at 3.30am, when he would catch a tram to work for an eight-hour shift underground. [LNB]He would emerge into the daylight to be met by a Bolton coach, who would take him to Burnden Park to play 90 minutes for his beloved Wanderers. [LNB]The 'Lion of Vienna' will be remembered for his phenomenal scoring record for England - 30 goals from 33 games - but also as a symbol of a post-war generation of footballers who painstakingly softened their boots with dubbin and went home with the imprint from the lacing in the ball on their foreheads.[LNB] Head boy: Lofthouse scored a sensational 30 goals in 33 games for England [LNB] Even his full Christian name, Nathaniel, somehow conjures up a vision of a man of steel, of centre partings, bulging biceps and thighs like the trunks of an oak tree. [LNB]Nat was my boyhood hero, even though Bolton were only my 'second' team. My young heart lay with Manchester United, but who I wanted to be was incorporated in this man who could head the ball as if firing it from a gun and who leapt like a salmon.[LNB]Honour: Lofthouse was awarded an OBE in 1994 [LNB] Bolton, the town and the football club, was his life. He joined them as a 14 year-old amateur and died this weekend after more than two decades as club president, having also been manager, chief scout and coach. [LNB]It was in the last of these roles that he coached me, by then a teenager hoping to become a professional. [LNB]During a 21-year playing career, Nat scored 285 goals and was captain at two FA Cup finals. [LNB]The first, the 'Matthews Final' of 1953, ended in 4-3 defeat by Blackpool; five years later he scored both goals as Bolton beat Manchester United 2-0, and famously knocked out the United keeper Harry Gregg while bundling the second goal over the line. [LNB]Lofthouse himself was knocked unconscious scoring his greatest goal, showing astonishing bravery to defy Austrian thuggery and help England to a 3-2 win in Vienna in what was viewed as an unofficial European championship final. [LNB]It earned him the 'Lion of Vienna' tag. That England team was one of legends, players whose reputations have survived for nearly 60 years, and their approach was simple. [LNB]As Len Shackleton put it: 'Billy Wright won the ball and passed to me. I gave it to Stanley Matthews, who ran down the wing and centred for Nat Lofthouse, who scored.'[LNB]VIDEO: Football mourns Nat Lofthouse...  'A strong and loyal leader'... Bobby Charlton leads tributes to late Bolton legend Nat Lofthouse Legend Nat Lofthouse, the 'Lion of Vienna', has died aged 85 [LNB]  Explore more:People: Harry Gregg Places: Vienna, United Kingdom

Source: Daily_Mail