Continuing our series looking at the careers of some of the greatest players to have ever worn the famous Three Lions, we remember the career of Nat Lofthouse.
Nat Lofthouse set the standard to which all strikers are compared. A strong, bustling, never-say-die centre forward who would use his strength to strike fear into defenders.
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’. The Austrians were highly rated and regarded as one of the best teams in Europe. What made it even more demanding was the rough treatment he had to suffer from the tough tackling Austria defenders.
Twice Lofthouse was badly hurt and twice the Bolton player shook off the injuries to inspire his team to a famous 3-2 victory.
Midway through the first-half Lofthouse opened the scoring with a tremendous left footed drive from a short pass by Tottenham’s Eddie Baily. Austria equalised soon after before Jackie Sewell, of Sheffield Wednesday, restored the lead.
Then with the score at 2-2 Baily was again the provider with a delicate through ball to Lofthouse who ran from just inside his own half to fire the winner past the advancing goalkeeper.
Three days later and showing no ill effects from the battering, he netted two more goals in a 3-0 victory over Switzerland in Zurich.
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