Philliskirk salutes legend Lofthouse

ATHLETIC youth team coach Tony Philliskirk has joined the rest of the footballing world in paying tribute to the great Nat Lofthouse, who died at the weekend at the age of 85.

Philliskirk began his footballing career at Lofthouse’s club, Bolton, and said: "It is very sad news. Nat was one of the few people in football who nobody had a bad word to say about.

"You analyse his goals-per-game ratio and it was absolutely outstanding, even when playing for England.

"But what I remember most is that as a young lad up at Bolton who didn't know anyone, he always took the time to stop and talk to me."

Lofthouse, the 'Lion of Vienna', who scored a phenomenal tally of 30 goals in 33 appearances for England, passed away peacefully in his sleep at a nursing home.

Aside from being a robust, strong, powerful forward, Lofthouse will predominantly be remembered for being a one–club man, rare in this day and age given the liberal movement of players between clubs.

Lofthouse played for his hometown club Bolton between 1946 and 1960 before retiring from the game with a knee injury, featuring in more than 500 matches in which he scored 255 league goals and a further 30 in cup competitions.

Reflecting on the man and player, close friend Sir Bobby Charlton said: "He was a leader, he had fantastic ability in the air, and he was strong, but he was also a talisman.”