R.I.P Nat

Former England international Nat Lofthouse OBE has died aged 85, Bolton have announced on their website.

Lofthouse made more than 450 appearances for the Trotters, scoring 255 goals for the club between 1946 and 1960.

He also represented England 33 times and scored 30 goals.

Bolton announced Lofthouse had died peacefully in his sleep at his nursing home on Saturday night.

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside told www.bwfc.co.uk: "On behalf of everyone at Bolton Wanderers Football Club, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Nat's family, who are very much in our thoughts at this time.

"Nat undoubtedly is a Bolton Wanderers legend. He was a one-club man and our football club meant as much to him as he did to us.

"We will miss him but we will celebrate his life, his legacy and great times that he brought to Bolton Wanderers."

After finishing playing, Lofthouse remained at the club in a number of off-field positions including chief coach, chief scout, caretaker manager and club president, in which he remained until his death.

"The Lion of Vienna." He'll be missed there, very visible, community-spirited at the club.

Proper football legend and a gent

RIP Nat

The first FA Cup Final I saw was the 1958 one when he scored both Bolton's goals as they beat Scumchester 2-0.
He had a big effect on me and I was a centre forward from that day on.