Sad news tonight as Bolton’s greatest ever has passed. The Lion of Vienna has succumbed to a long battle with disease and is no longer with us. The forward, undoubtedly Bolton’s greatest ever, was born on August 27, 1925. He was 85 years old.
The forward scored 255 goals in 452 appearances in a Wanderers shirt between 1946 and 1960. Nat Lofthouse also represented England on 33 occasions and netted 30 times, an incredible ratio. After he retired from playing in 1960, Lofthouse served as a chief coach for BWFC, a caretaker manager, a full-time manager, chief scout, administrative manager, executive manager, and president of the club.
He received the OBE in 1994 and just three years later, Bolton named the East Stand of the then new Reebok Stadium the Nat Lofthouse Stand. The Lion of Vienna was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002, the inaugural year.
Rest in Peace, Nat Lofthouse.
The greatest ever Wanderer.