why was nat lofthouse called the lion of viennawhy was nat lofthouse called the lion of vienna

why was nat lofthouse called the lion of vienna why was nat lofthouse called the lion of vienna

Not once after that did Nat protest or fight Bolton's decision. Soon after Lofthouse's death a swell of support for a statue to be built in his memory started. In 4th position is Ian Rush on 233 goals, then David Herd on 223 goals. In his 1999 book, Bolton Wanderers, Dean Hayes illustrated what a typical day looked like for Lofthouse: "Bevin Boy Lofthouse's Saturdays went like this: up at 3.30 a.m., catching the 4.30 tram to work; eight hours down the pit pushing tubs; collected by the team coach; playing for Bolton. Nat Lofthouse - Bolton Wanderers Lofthouse was consistently self-deprecating about his abilities his favourite maxim, borrowed from one of his coaches at Bolton, was that all he could do was run, shoot, and head but it slowly became apparent that by doing all three with a sort of relentless, irresistible energy, he needed little else. The statue's pose was chosen by the club's fans as well as Nat Lofthouse's surviving family. He hesitated before he emerged at my side. It was a typical Bolton team, and they won in a typical Bolton fashion: the measured combination of a bit of skill with a healthy helping of muscle. He wasn't part of an illustrious academy early on, like those you see in the modern game. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. In a football match bearing the weight of sport, politics, and differing ideologies, Lofthouse approached the pitch as though it were a battlefield, sacrificing his body (and probably a few brain cells) to win an important, poignant, and unexpected, victory for England. The Bolton Wanderers reached the final again five years later. The next season, on Dec. 6, 1947 Nat Lofthouse married the love of his life, Alma Foster, to whom he would remain married until her death in 1986. It was no more than Nat Lofthouse deserved. He really was the complete centre-forward. He said later; I never saw the ball enter the Austrian net for the best goal of my life. Despite the double strike many, including leading football writer John Thompson remained unconvinced. One false start for his school team aside he was drafted in as a last-minute replacement in goal and conceded seven he began exhibiting a prodigious knack for goalscoring early on. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. In the swing of things and in its heyday, the stadium could hold up to 70,000 people (albeit in close quarters) so one boy without a ticket would not be easily noticed. . It was something that Lofthouse would later describe as "the worst moment of his life." The crowd in the stands cheered Lofthouse on.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'historyofsoccer_info-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_14',187,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyofsoccer_info-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); As Lofthouse recalls, I heard the hounds running after me. Musil began running but stopped before he reached me. With the extensive scouting networks and multi-tiered academies of nowadays simply not existing in the 1930s, Lofthouse was staring into the footballing abyss as he left school at 14. I would say without fear or favor the man was more important to Bolton from 82 onwards than ever he was in the 50s.". Charity No: 1050792, Open every day 10am 5pm (last admission 4pm), Email: info@nationalfootballmuseum.com final", "England List of FA Charity/Community Shield Matches", 'The Cup Comes Home' - 1958 newsreel of Nat Lofthouse in Bolton, Lancashire, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nat_Lofthouse&oldid=1150190569, *Club domestic league appearances and goals, This page was last edited on 16 April 2023, at 20:03. . The evening of Saturday, 15 January 2011, Nat Lofthouse passed away at the Bolton nursing home. He looked like a boxer at the end of a tough 15 rounds when he left the field. May 1958. However, theres little doubt that financial pragmatism aside, his heart was always in Bolton and with Wanderers. Cousin mourns UK football's 'Lion of Vienna' - NZ Herald Richard Lofthouse brought up his family on a weekly wage of just 2 10s. Bolton Wanderers and England legend Nat Lofthouse ( 'The Lion of Vienna' ) dies aged 85Nat Lofthouse epitomised the kind of English centre forward that has . please support us. Merrick plucked a corner cross from the air, who threw a long, swerving ball down the middle of the field. Had Lofthouse not been a Bolton Wanderers player, life would have been extremely difficult for him. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Football Legends - Nat Lofthouse - BBC Archive Nat Lofthouse - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia A one-club man, he played over 400 games for Bolton Wanderers and earned 33 caps for England (as well as his famous nickname). Somehow, he managed to get the shot off before colliding with the Austrian keeper. In the following days Weekly Dispatch, John Robertson wrote; Lofthouses first goal left me open-mouthed. During the game, Nat was told to play in net, and being the kind of child that relished the opportunity to get on the field, didn't complain. By the end of the match, he had done just that, and earned the title of The Lion of Vienna in the process. The day for Bevin Boys was a long and tough one. Its capital cities, Berlin and Vienna, were also divided into four by the four Allied Powers (Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and France). ], On 3 May 1958, almost five years to the day after losing the 1953 final, Lofthouse captained Bolton in the 1958 FA Cup Final against Manchester United. Lofthouse was the recipient of various honours after retiring from the game. As with the other definitive match of his career, the match was emotionally charged, this time due to the fact that the opponents, Manchester United, had been decimated only three months earlier in the tragic Munich Air Disaster. A one-club man, he played over 400 games for Bolton Wanderers and earned 33 caps for England (as well as his famous nickname). Known as the 'Lion of Vienna,' Nat Lofthouse was the epitome of the down-to-earth football star of the 1940s and 1950s. The match in question was a 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Nat scored 2 of Bolton's goals. From an early age, however, it was clear that as long as he or one of the neighbouring children had something approximating a ball, he felt natural and content. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Its difficult to discuss Nat Lofthouse without resorting to clichs. Pushing the tubs made me fitter than I had ever been before. This was touched on to Lofthouse on the halfway line by Finney. On top of running the Castle Pub after his retirement, Lofthouse maintained a number of different positions with Bolton Wanderers. Although he failed to score in the Cup Winners Cup match there is no doubt that, with 13 goals, he was the star of the show. Bolton finished in the top half of the table for 6 of those 13 seasons. As he regretted later, I never saw the ball enter the Austrian net for the goal of my life.. To open the scoring, he swiveled on his right foot and hit a volley with his left foot. His most memorable performance, which won him the nickname the "Lion of Vienna", was for England against Austria in May 1952. The OBE was awarded to him in 1994. Please enter the following information to sign up. Having served his apprenticeship in wartime football, Lofthouse went on to become a star of peacetime football. The phrase Lion of Vienna will be forever associated with Lofthouse. In addition to their colorful rosettes, red, white, and blue rattles, and chants of England, they instilled a carnival atmosphere around the stadium, evoking the atmosphere associated with an FA Cup match. The paradigm that would come to define a golden era in the history of one of Englands oldest clubs was now set in stone. Friendly internationals then held an importance that has now all but vanished, and Lofthouse's winning goal, in a 3-2 victory against a powerful team, was lauded to the . He netted in every round of the FA Cup in 1953, including the final, only to be thwarted by the wizardry of Stanley Matthews and a hat-trick from Stan Mortensen in one of the most famous finals of all time. His most memorable performance,. Read |Sir Stanley Matthews and the story of Englands humble wizard. Awarded an O.B.E in 1994, Lofthouse suffered from dementia in his later years and passed away at the age of 84 in 2011. Hurt scoring the winner against Ireland, Lofthouse missed the November 1953 match against Hungary at Wembley where the home team were hammered 6-3 and also suffered a wrist injury causing him to withdrew from the squad that went on a short tour in 1954 which included a 7-1 humbling at the hands of the same Hungarian team in Budapest. Additionally, he and Tom Finney had the England scoring record together until Jimmy Greaves came along. When they won a late corner, they flooded forward, leaving Lofthouse alone with a single marker on the halfway line. He wasn't part of an illustrious academy early on, like those you see in the modern game. Pic courtesy of Mirrorpix. In 1952-53, he was named FWA Footballer of the Year. In the 1930s, Austria had been among the great Central European football nations. For as much as Bolton Wanderers shaped him, his career and his life, he too left an indelible mark on the club, defining the team's most iconic era and playing a pivotal role in saving the club during its most ignominious age. In 1978, he became the club's executive manager. On 25 May 1952, Lofthouse earned the title 'Lion of Vienna' after scoring his second goal in England's 32 victory over Austria. Josef Musil, Rudolf, Rockl, Ernst Happel, Walter Schleger, Ernst Ocwirk, Theodor Brinek, Ernst Melchior, Gerhard Hanappi, Robert Dienst, Adolf Huber, Walter Haummer. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. It was much like the story told about the war that had now ended they were battered and bruised but had come out on top. The former Bolton Wanderers and England centre forward . Promised a new bike if he scored a hat-trick in the match he actually went four better, getting all the goals in a 7-1 win, establishing himself as one to watch. He would later serve as the Chairman of the Board on two occasions: in 1952-1953 and again from 1961-1963. The 1958-59 campaign provided a final high point in Lofthouses international career. Just about. Lion Of Vienna Suite, a Bolton Wanderers community. Lofthouse Lofthouse was dubbed the "Lion of Vienna" after scoring the second goal in England's 3-2 triumph over Austria on May 25, 1952. In September 1952, Nat Lofthouse scored six goals in an interleague game against the Irish League. Thousands more stood outside in the streets with speakers erected so that the public could hear the service. We were introduced and I stood there tongue-tied, Nat would later recall. M4 3BG, 2023 National Football Museum. And in an ironic twist, for all his on-field exploits, all his goals, all his charging, bulldozing, irresistible runs forward, arguably his greatest contribution to the club came long after hed retired and after his ill-fated spells as manager, when his tireless fundraising helped rescue Bolton from financial oblivion. From the very height of his celebrity to the very end of his life, almost everybody that Lofthouse or Lofty, as he insisted on being called met came away with memories of a genial, friendly, generous soul. Both men were among the inaugural inductees to the Hall Of Fame. NAT THE LION | Read The League He scored both goals in the 1958 FA Cup Final, the second seeing him charge both keeper and ball over the line. While it was perhaps not the greatest result, he clearly impressed, and after missing a few matches in between, Lofthouse played every game for England between October 1951 and November 1953, a total of 18 matches. Honours:1 FA Cup A few years later, on Sept. 4, 1939, the day after World War II broke out in Europe, as nearly all of the Bolton first team went off to war, Lofthouse went to Burnden Park, put pen to paper and signed for Bolton Wanderers as a youth player. Unfortunately, Bolton were not able to right their sinking ship under the Lion of Vienna and at the end of the 1970-71 season (after Lofthouse had left the post), Bolton were in 22nd place and relegated to the Third Division (an all-time low until the 1987-1988 season). We may also very occasionally send you information about the museum via Facebook. Curse of the number nine - Lion Of Vienna Suite For Nat, the expectations were even greater. The plaudits for the Lion of Vienna didn't stop after he hung up his boots though. [3], On 26 November 1958, 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 was not until 17 December of that year, when he suffered a knee injury against Birmingham City. If anything, this inspired a more violent second half, with both sides desperate for a meaningful win. In his 14 years at Bolton between . Compared to the broadsheets, tabloid match reports treat the occasion as a related event to the war. When the goalkeeper tried to give Lofthouse the money for his pint, Lofthouse refused. Nat Lofthouse was everything you will not find in a footballer today. The piratical, practical genius of Nat Lofthouse | FourFourTwo And so with that barge, Lofthouse won Bolton's fourth, and final to date, FA Cup, famously proud of his "110 team" that cost no more than each player's signing-on fee. Shortlisted for the Telegraph Sports Book Awards Biography of the Year. The England camp was tense as dawn broke in Vienna, Austria, on the morning of 25 May 1952. On Jan. 15, 2011, Nat Lofthouse passed away quietly in his sleep in a Bolton nursing home at the age of 85. The view was clearly shared by the selectors as it was back in reserve with Newcastles Jackie Milburn at the head of Englands attack. His career and life, like so many of the players he shared the pitch with, seems so improbable when compared to modern stars both in terms of achievements and circumstances that its hard to separate the man from the legend. In front of 65,500 fans at the Prater Stadium, including hordes of British soldiers, Lofthouse gave England the lead when he smacked home a half-volley from 12 yards after being set up by Jackie Sewell. I could only nod like a dim-wit. 1968 rolled around and Nat Lofthouse was appointed caretaker manager of the club. He was born with Bolton in his blood, and he played his football, lived his life in a way that reflected that. Lofthouse was one of the inaugural inductees to the National Football Museum Hall Of Fame in 2002, attending the event to collect his award alongside other greats of the game, including his friend and former England team-mate Sir Tom Finney. Italy had already won the World Cup twice, and football had returned to its former glory following the war. Towards the end of the 1956-57 season there was some doubt over whether Lofthouse would remain at Bolton and it was all because of a pub. He also led his side to the FA Cup final, giving them a 2nd minute lead against Blackpool to compete a record of scoring in every round. What made Lofthouses feats all the more remarkable was the manner in which he shrugged them off. There was a light breeze and intermittent rain during the game. Bolton as a team were struggling to reassert themselves with their pre-war team dismantled and Foweraker retiring, and that process was made considerably more difficult by the shadow both psychological and financial cast by the Burnden Disaster, a crush that killed 33, in 1946. [8] Nat Lofthouse was an Inaugural Inductee into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002. On the domestic front Lofthouse enjoyed an outstanding 1952-53 season. The new forward scored twice but Lawton matched his feat and Chelsea scraped to a 4-3 win. Playing at number 9 for Castle Hill, a position once occupied by Tommy Lawton at that point an England star young Nat firmly establishing himself as a school hero and, unbeknownst to him, earned a reputation among local scouts as the boy with such incredible heading ability that it was like he could kick with his head. Sir Tom Finney and Nat Lofthouse together at the National Football Museum Hall Of Fame awards in 2002. Lofthouse stands eighth in the list of English football's top division all time goalscorers.[4]. Nat Lofthouse began playing football as a very young boy. To be awarded the label of Lion, once reserved for realm's greatest warriors, is to be christened with one of England's most enduring symbols. But he came back before the final whistle as Nat's valiant display earned him the nickname, 'Lion of Vienna'. That's the thing more than anything else. Born in Bolton, Lancashire, in 1925, Lofthouse joined the town's main club on 4 September 1939 and made his debut in a wartime 51 win against Bury on 22 March 1941 when he scored two goals. A vote of the Football Writers Association members, which functions like a jury, selected the professional player who best exemplified footballers precepts and examples as the player of the year. There Lofthouse got the only goal of the first match. His father was a coal-bagger for the community's co-operative before becoming the head horse keeper for Bolton Corporation. A) 20 B) 30 C) 40 In early 1947 he asked for a transfer with Tottenham Hotspur said to be seriously interested in his services but the Bolton board turned the request down and he quickly got back to business finishing the season as the clubs top scorer with 18 goals, a feat he repeated in the following campaign. Harry sees Nat manning the bar and the two talk for a while with Gregg finally ordering a pint. Nat had the opportunity to take over as the licensee of the Castle Hill Hotel in the town and was keen to do so. Despite this, England won the game in a hostile country despite suffering physical battering. Now they faced Austria, one of the worlds best teams, and one who had seriously threatened Englands precious unbeaten record at home to continental teams just one year before. Find him, you got a winner. The words so often used to describe how he acted in public fearless, brave, lionheart in the words of Stanley Matthews reflected a reputation as a player of almost biblical determination, but one who was privately beset by worry at various points throughout his career. In 1945 19-year-old Nat played a big part as Wanderers captured the War Cup (North). When he came to, he was the Lion of Vienna, an epithet that stuck for the rest of his life. Lofthouse received a 10 signing-on fee and put pen to paper for Bolton on 4 September 1939 the day after Britain had declared war on Germany causing the abandonment of the Football League season. HE was nicknamed the Lion of Vienna. Of all those conscripted into service between the ages of 18 and 25, around 10% went to work in the mines. An England international, Nat Lofthouse played his entire club career for his hometown club, Bolton Wanderers, scoring 255 goals in 452 league appearances. Lofthouse stood unmarked on the right side of the penalty area when Sewell crossed the ball. Yet, Lofthouse loved being on the field and was going to take every opportunity he had. Lofthouse was battered on the field and left the field. Thread starter leefer; Start date 16 January 2011; leefer Loyal Member. Half a century after Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), they were finally recognized as contributors to the war effort by Queen Elizabeth II. Musil had to commit fully before I struck the ball. Too young for military service, Nat was determined to work hard on and off the field. Lofthouse had thunderous, crashing shots, coupled with a burning desire to get in the right place to unleash them. Why was Nat Lofthouse called the Lion of Vienna? He continued playing for Bolton throughout the war and on Saturdays would wake at 3:30 a.m. go to his mining job at 4:30 a.m and work for eight hours before going on to play for his club. Even earning the maximum wage, financial security for his family wasnt secured beyond his playing days, and he tried his hand at both working as a paint salesman and running a pub. Nat's time in that role also didn't go to plan and the legend was relieved of his duties in 1972. ". Bill Ridding, the man that had managed Wanderers for 18 seasons, had left the club just before the start of the 1968-1969 season. In 1943, Nat Lofthouse was called upon to serve as a Bevin Boy at the Mosley Common coal mine. Returning on the bus after the game he was shocked to find Tommy Lawton waiting for him. Quick off the mark, an ability to shoot with either foot, with strength and agility in the air an innate ability to be in the right place at the right time. Caps:33 (30 goals) Lofthouse was at his imperious best, plundering goals at a rate that even the sportswriters who had grown up watching the likes of Dixie Dean and others agreed was exceptional. For the recognition of club and country, a statue stands outside Boltons stadium.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'historyofsoccer_info-box-3','ezslot_4',180,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyofsoccer_info-box-3-0'); England toured Europe briefly in summer 1952 and played matches against politically sensitive opponents Italy and Austria. Ultimately, the Hungarians cruelly exposed Englands insecurities in May 1954 and November 1953 against Continental opposition. Nostalgia Quiz: The Lion of Vienna and the rest of the Bolton Wanderers

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